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thanosscross · 16 hours ago

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hii!! <33

i love your work and i just have to request something for.. choi seung-hyun :)

yk top isnt in the kpop industry after all the things that happened to him (i feel so bad for him) so, when he was recording squid game.. guess what!?? apart from jo yuri, reader. a kpop idol whom during the last months/year has become famous there acting!! oh gosh he is so in shock because he gets flashbacks. and aside from that, our character is associated with his, so he has to spend plenty of time with us

Absolutely love it, I do I do. So let's do this

My Darling - Choi Seung Hyun x reader

Summary: Meeting Choi Seung Hyun was an honor for you, considering you had stepped into his spotlight as a new upcoming k-pop rapper after he retired, so what happens whenever you not only meet him, but get closer than most with him

Warnings: You will cry.

Going on set for squid games for the first time was an experience, especially meeting everybody, yes you had been on a handful of other production, but nothing like this. Whenever you first given you script, you were sure you'd be one of the first to be killed off, but finding out you live throughout the second season was a shock, especially because you had a tour coming up soon.

Walking through the groups of people you felt nervous, because of your management company you had missed your first reading for the script, meaning everybody had already met other than you. You chose to sit in your chair off to the side going over your script, trying to anybody wearing a tracksuit with 230 on it, knowing that was going to be the main co-star you filmed with. Unknown to you Choi Seung Hyun had already spotted you and was standing in shock "Hey? You okay man?" Jae-won (Player 124) asked him seeing him staring across the room "Y-Yea, does she look familiar?" He asked motioning to you "I know we film with her, but-" Seung Hyun was cut off by a soft voice in front of him "Hi, I'm uh..Y/n l/n..I guess we're gonna be love interests" You smiled sweetly extending your hand to shake his, taken by surprise by him bending slightly to kiss the top of your hand gently "Choi Seung Hyun" He introduced, you blushed scratching the back of your neck shyly "O-Oh I know, being a big female rapper in k-pop, you have to know who came before you" You smiled, his smirk turned into a genuine smile after that "That's where I recognized you, you're that y/n!" He explained, sighing in relief that it wasn't going to be awkward you smiled "Do you guys wanna go over a few lines with me?..I couldn't make it the other day" You asked shyly, both men excitedly volunteering.

Filming with Seung Hyun was fun, he was always trying to flirt with you or get you to laugh, while it flustered you, the directors and cast loved it, all of them explaining it's giving their characters alot more chemistry behind the acting. As you stood on your mark, Seung Hyun stood on the opposite side of the scene, filming scenes for a close up argument between your character and his, as the director called action you attempted to start your lines "You selfish!- I can't! he's standing there so sweet!" You frowned, stepping forward hugging him tightly "You're not selfish" You frowned, the past few weeks of filming you and Seung Hyun got close, opening up to each other over wine after filming and coffee before filming. Seung Hyun just chuckled "I know, would it help if I made you mad?" He asked raising his eyebrows, you shrugged stepping back to your marker "Couldn't hurt to try" You smiled softly, he just smiled before looking at you "Your music is by far better than anything I've produced, and you've surpassed me in the rap world" He explained, you both knew he was just coming up with things that would get under his skin, it wasn't that you were a huge fangirl, but going into the music world at first you idolized T.O.P, so after his scandal and and him leaving BigBang you held a soft spot for him, he was a big reason you even learned how to rap that fast.

You filmed the scene with ease after that, only stumbling on your lines one more time after that for the day. You were now standing with your back to the wall, Seung Hyun standing a few inches in front of you, his arm blocking one side of your head, the other had a camera positioned to see the both of you perfectly "Y/n, Seung Hyun, Are you two okay to start?" Dong-Hyuk asked, you were grateful to have such a thoughtful director, any intense scenes always making sure you were comfortable and ready before filming started. "Let's do this" Seung Hyun smiled, you nodded in agreement as they called out action. "I thought I told you to pick to stay, senorita" he growled, grabbing the bright red X patch that was velcroid to your jacket "You're not the boss of me" You stated glaring him down, trying your best to remember what line was your cue to try and get away "Didn't I say I'd kill you?" He asked reaching his hand back, forgetting your cue you yelped as Seung Hyun's came in contact with your throat, pinning you to the wall, you both glanced at the director in shock, almost like children after accidentally hurting each other. "Cut!" He called out "Y/n! What was that? Did you forget your cue or something?" The director called out, your eyes were stuck on Seung Hyun though, his hand slowly pulling away from you, being replaced by his gentle finger tips "Are you okay?" He asked softly, trying to see with the current lighting if he hurt you "I'm alright, it just scared me..I guess I did forget" You whispered, you wouldn't admit why exactly you forgot, it definitely wasn't because of Seung Hyun's voice whenever he was acting.

After filming you were sitting on your trailer steps, watching the rain fall around you "Y/n" Seung Hyun's soft voice sounded from somewhere around the corner of your trailer "Seung Hyun?" You asked, trying to hear him over the soft pattering of the raindrops, you soon realized he wasn't talking to you, he was talking about you. Peeking around the corner you saw him a few trailers down talking on the phone with somebody "Yea yea I know that, but what else?" He asked, you stayed hidden behind your trailer, still listening in, not at all sorry to admit you really cared about what he thought about you, but also sorry to admit you felt the need to listen in on his conversation to know. "I don't know man! W-working with her has been fun.." You heard between the muffled quiet bits of his conversation, you were about to walk away before you heard him raise his voice again "Oh no! No! Not like that!" He shouted, you could only wonder what he meant or what he was talking about, you chose to keep it to yourself for now.

Walking up with a startle off put your morning severely, being a rising star wasn't easy, you had creeps at meet and greets, stalkers that went to extensive lengths to try and get your attention, some of which giving you pretty intense nightmares and ptsd. Walking onto set you gripped your script, you had accidentally slept through coffee with Seung Hyun, which gave him a weird feeling, like there was something wrong. "Y/n?" You heard his voice before you slammed into his body, you scampered back as Seung Hyun caught you easily, steading you on your feet before taking in your panicked look "Hey, are you okay, sweetheart?" He asked tilting his head, you didn't reply, just wrapping your arms tightly around him trying not to show to anybody that you were close to tears. Now Seung Hyun wasn't a liar, he wasn't very fond of physical touching, but there was something about your panicked terrified state that gave him a craving to hold onto you until you were back to your usual bubbly self. Wrapping his arms around you he rested a hand on the back of your head, holding you close to him "What happened this morning?" He asked "You were fine whenever I left last night.." He continued giving you a soft squeeze before pulling away, keeping a gentle hand resting on your shoulder. "I don't..Just..bad dreams" You smiled softly, trying to shake off any remaining anxiety you had "Are you okay to do today?" He asked rubbing your shoulder gently, you relaxed further under his touch "Y-Yea yea, I'm okay" You smiled, he gave you an encouraging smile before leading you over to your seats, that you both had moved closer to each other during one of your interviews earlier in the week.

As you read through this episodes script you mumbled quietly to yourself, unknowingly singing along to different verses of different songs that popped into your head "Okay, remind me when I'm in the studio again to get you to come do a collaboration track together" Seung Hyun smiled walking over to you from where he was filming "Don't play with my teenage fangirl heart like that" You teased, you both knew how you felt towards BigBang as a teenager, how you had posters of your co-star in your room before and after his rap career. "I'm serious, that's some good work" He smiled sincerely squeezing your shoulder sitting down, you just offered him an awkward smile, you knew today was Seung Hyun's last day on set, and it would be the last day you truly got to spend with him, and it'd be a lie if you said you wouldn't miss him.

You had one scene left between you and Seung Hyun before his characters death scene, and you were a nervous wreck, as the director called out action you stood in the colored room for the game 'mingle' "What was that stunt you pulled, huh!?" He shouted, backing you against the wall "I-I was trying to save her-" He cut you off, you did your best to act nervous and scared, but it was hard whenever the man currently yelling at you would apologize the minute any scenes where he had to objectify or be rude to you were done. "Her!? What about you, senorita!?" He screamed before backing up running his hands through his hair before going back to standing in front of you "I'm so fucking mad right now!" He shouted, pulling out another piece of candy out of his prop necklace placing it in his mouth "Just calm down! I'm okay, alright!" You argued, he just put his arm against the wall glaring at you, you took a deep breath getting ready for your cue "Don't try to tell Thanos the great to- Umpf!" He started until you smacked your lips against his, his hands going to your hips holding you close to his body waiting for the director to call Cut. Whenever he did you were a flustered mess, who knew that man could kiss like that?

After filming wrapped you were quick to get back to your trailer, shutting the door softly behind you before placing your face in your hands trying to take deep breaths, you didn't want anybody to see you like this, you felt stupid and overdramatic, but you and Seung Hyun had gotten really close during your months of filming, and it made you sad thinking about how busy you were, and how little you'd get to see your new friend, you wouldn't say you were an emotional person, but whenever you felt something, you truly felt it to where it'd effect everything you'd do. As you took your final shaky deep breath you jumped hearing the door close "Y/n?.." Seung Hyun asked softly, he thought you had been acting even odder than before as they got closer to his characters death, but after you left while he was saying his thank you's and goodbye's to everybody it was obvious now something was really bothering you. Seeing your teary eyes and tear stained cheeks he felt a pain in his chest "Oh, Jagi" He whispered pulling you into a hug, now Seung Hyun wasn't sure what he felt towards you, but he knew it was something different, he wanted to talk to you everyday, wanted to be the one to comfort you when you're sad, hold you whenever you're scared, and he knew friends didn't want that with other friends.

"I really liked hanging out and meeting you Seung Hyun" You sniffled stepping back, starting to bow in respect but he stopped you "Is that what you've been so upset about?" He asked, a soft smile playing on his lips, you just shrugged against his hold on you, not trusting your voice to speak "I didn't think you'd miss me that bad" He smiled, leading you over to sit on the couch that was placed in the bigger space of the trailer "I can't...have alot of friends...I mean you know, and being here, I feel like I finally found one, and I don't know when I'll see you again" You frowned, feeling tears start to build back up in your eyes, his expression was quick to match yours as he hugged you again "You'll see me again, y/n, don't worry I don't care if I have to buy V.I.P tickets to see you at every show, you're too cool to just not be your friend after this" He smiled giving you a slight squeeze before pulling away, you sniffled wiping your face "You wouldn't pay, I'd let you come watch backstage" You whispered, his frown turning into a soft chuckle "Well then, I'll be looking forward to it" He smiled, kissing your forehead softly "I had fun hanging out with you too, y/n" He added on, holding your hand in his gently "Promise we'll see each other again?" You whispered, feeling yourself about to cry again "I swear to you, jagi" he whispered before leaning back pulling you into a hug, holding you until you fell asleep.

Whenever you woke up the feeling of sadness was even heaiver seeing Seung Hyun gone and a small note sitting on the table

'Jagi,

I had to get going in time to make an art show, but I will be back to see you soon! Just over the last month, you've made me feel things I never thought I would be capable of feeling, that's how I knew you were my best friend. Acting with you and all the nights we spent talking will forever be an honor for me, your beauty is like no others, my eyes are drawn it to like a bumble bee to a flower. You give me hope there's a lot of good things to keep trying for, and for that, I will always be grateful for you my jagi.

Yours truly,

Choi Seung Hyun

T O P <3'

Reading the note you felt yourself on the verge of crying again, wanting to smack him for not letting you have a chance to thank him for being so sweet to you, sighing you got up, ready to get finished filming so you could see your best friend again.

HAHA MY FIRST SLIGHTLY SAD FIC AND MY FIANCE IS SO PISSED SHE'S GOTTA WAIT FOR A PART TWO!!

#t.o.p x reader #thanos x reader #choi seunghyun #choi su bong x reader #squid game thanos #top x reader #squid game #squidgame #thanos squid game #thanos/choi su bong #su bong x reader #t.o.p bigbang #bigbang

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kibbles-bits · 2 days ago

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Heaven's Best AU what do Velvette thought and relationship with Winner!Vox!? eventually warm up toward him since Val likely convince her give him a chance despise he is an angel!?

Velvette doesn't trust him at all when she meets him! Especially because Valentino just shows up with him looking all small and pathetic and traumatized. She does not miss that Vox is covered in Sinner blood and Val isn't at all. So this guy is fully capable of slaughter and somehow Val has avoided it.

She trusts Val and knows he can read people really well, but she also knows he's an idiot who made it very clear to her he wants to fuck an angel. But then she is forced to consider that Vox isn't Val's type at all so now she has no idea where this is going. She can't question Val while Vox is there so she just helps clean him up and hope this isn't some weird trick with Vox trying to look weak and unassuming.

(She was right to worry. The minute she leaves them alone to burn Vox's bloodied clothes, Vox snaps and threatens Val to not tell anyone what happened.)

She comes back to them being civil to each other. Vox thanks her politely for manifesting new clothes for him and then is escorted back to the hotel to have another breakdown.

She doesn't see any reason why she'd ever see him again.

Except he keeps coming by for Valentino and to her horror they're like. Friends. And she can't see why. Valentino barely gives any details on how he and Vox met or why they still hang out so from her point of view, Valentino became friends with a loser goody-two-shoes angel who probably has a few screws loose and might snap one day and kill him.

And then when Valentino sleeps with him? She thinks. Welp. They're fucked. They're going to die. Valentino is going to mess this up and Vox is going to smite them. So she's just waiting for something bad to happen and getting ready to maybe try and kill Vox before he kills them.

Vox thinks she's jealous and thinks he's going to take Valentino away from her. So he takes it upon himself to have a little talk with her and assure her that him being there won't affect her and Val's relationship <3

She is appalled at how sincere he is and tells him to kill himself and Vox leaves to cry to Val about it.

Eventually they bond over hating Val for being obnoxious about being liked by two people.

She doesn't fully trust him but she does like him enough, especially when he praises the work she's done and fully recognizes her as more of the leader of the duo.

He sometimes likes to hover around her work when Val is busy and she's run into him on the streets a couple of times when he's trying to advertise the hotel. They haven't really hung out alone for like, fun. They're both open to trying it, but neither is willing to be the first to send the invite.

They bond much more after Vox's Fall.

Read the Heaven's Best AU HERE

#Heaven's Best AU #Hazbin Hotel #Vox #Velvette #Valentino #asks #angelvan105

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unabletonotlovesatoru · 5 hours ago

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⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ teddy’s notes: long awaited part two!! im so happy with how people are enjoying my stuff its so nicee <33 thank you all so much! i hope you enjoy this too :) also pls dont ask for visuals for this i really am not in the mood to look for something this obscure through twitter porn accs.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ contains: mind that this is timeskip! bakugou as mentioned in part 1. nsfw! reader is still gender neutral and wears a suit, bakugou still has a praise kink, handjobs(m receiving), kissing, praising, also maybe a little bit of exhibitionism but honestly not really.

read part 1 here!

the next time bakugou sees you is when he's attending the annual hero gala.

he wasn't too eager to go, honestly, but his manager basically forced him because he needed to get on people's good side, and nothing works better than his fans getting excited over new pictures and all. katsuki is looking especially good tonight, he knows: a three piece suit that he decorated with the same jewellery set he wore on the photoshoot with you.

it was a gift from the brand: a set of gold earrings with red rubies that he was photographed in first, a simple clean gold necklace and a set of extravagant and quite flashy rings for all of his fingers which he liked a lot. and that damned box of jewellery hasn't moved from its spot in the first drawer of his bedside table until tonight.

he doesn't spot you at first though.

it's only when the flash of a camera blinds him when he is turning around that bakugou is made aware of your presence.

that soft, almost lazy curl of your lips, calmness and curiosity of your attentive gaze and the signature camera in your hands as you scan his figure up and down - bakugou's heartbeat involuntarily quickens, his hand gripping a flute of awful tasting champagne nearly breaking in his hold. he straightens his back immediately, his face wearing its usual scowl.

"you look handsome, bakugou-san." you say, clicking another picture of him before you wander off somewhere else, cutting off any possible further interaction.

putting away the drink in his hand, bakugou races after you yet you're already mixed in the big crowd that appears out of nowhere. it doesn't help that the classic suit you're wearing is identical to everyone's around this big ass venue. and kirishima drags him back to their tables, urging him into joining a useless conversation, while bakugou insistently keeps looking back, looking for you.

katsuki feels electricity running through his whole body when his gaze locks with yours from across the room. it's a brief moment that lasts two seconds yet it's enough to make him go crazy, promising himself to catch you later and say something.

throughout the evening, bakugou occasionally glances around the ballroom, catching the sight of you taking pictures. an easygoing smile present on your relaxed face as you nod and respectfully bow in front of every hero you meet, timidly introducing yourself and asking if you can capture the beautiful moment they are having.

he's watched you be surrounded by an overly excited mina and ochako, with yaoyorozu and jirou peeking behind you as they all looked through the pictures you just took, leaning in close and comfortably, which made you visibly flustered. soon kirishima and denki joined them, tugging shouto and izuku along so you could work your magic on them too, and bakugou felt a pang of something unfamiliar in his chest when you smiled back at the red haired idiot, your beam bright enough to match his.

he looks away solemnly before making his way out of the ballroom, hands deep in his pockets and his face set into a permanent scowl. as he gets ready to leave the venue, you seem to appear out of nowhere — bakugou catches your figure disappearing behind one of the fancy doors in the lobby he is standing in and without a second thought, he is moving after you.

the library is cloaked in silence. it’s dark and unwelcoming, but bakugou’s eyes only focus on you — leaning against the bookshelves as you stare back at him, waiting. your camera is absent, surprisingly, and your small, knowing smile lures him in as he steps closer and pushes the door behind himself, watching the soft light disappear.

“your manager invited me to come here, y’know? as his plus one.” bakugou’s body tenses before he realises that his manager wasn’t present tonight, something about ‘sore throat’ and whatnot. but the mere thought of him being brave enough to ask you to go as his date? even though you clearly declined his offer it doesn’t change the fact that the boy had more balls than him and it makes him fucking furious.

“that little shit,” he growls under his breath, already structuring a fitting punishment for his manager, but the sound of your melodic laughter pulls him out of his thoughts.

“could you come closer?” you offer him your hand, a serene smile on your face.

bakugou obeys.

he leans closer to you, the scent of worn paper mingling with the faint trace of your perfume. his breath hitches as your fingertips graze his wrist, a whisper of contact that sends a tremor down his spine.

your gaze locks with his, eyes smoldering with an unspoken promise. with you pressed between him and the cool, ridged bookshelves, he feels as if the world shrunk until it was only him and you. he yearns for your touch, his chest tightening with an almost desperate ache as he brings your hand to his own, guiding your hand to rest on his body.

it lingers on his torso only for a little bit, skilfully opening the buttons of his jacket, his vest, the bottom buttons of his shirt, and finally slides down to his crotch, cupping him through his pants.

oh fuck, he’s been dreaming of this.

it’s too dark to see anything, but a sliver of light is reflected on your pretty face, allowing katsuki to see your mesmerised expression — your brows raised in interest, your eyes glimmering in fascination and lips parted in surprise, puffs of air mixing with his exhales. he goes to hide his face in your neck, feeling too vulnerable under your attention, but your other hand quickly grips his jaw, effectively stopping him from moving, and bakugou is ready to blow his load then and there.

“no no,” you mutter, tilting his face down, “don’t hide from me. not when you look so pretty.”

katsuki suppresses a needy groan, but you stroke him faster, sliding the soft palm of your hand over his tip over and over again, until he twitches violently and you resume your previous movements. your hand is better than he imagined: it’s so pleasantly cool against the burning skin of his flushed cock, it’s enough to capture all of it in a tight fist and it’s making him see stars he hasn’t seen ever since he first jerked himself off.

“that’s it,” you muse idly, leaning in to press a kiss against his jaw, “you’re doing so good, angel.”

katsuki shudders and glances down at where you’re touching him, exhaling shakily as he burns the sight into his mind, willing himself to keep it forever. you continue planting soft kisses on his face; moving from his chin to his cheek, licking the salty skin of it as if savouring the taste and pecking the corner of his lips so fucking innocently that bakugou nearly loses his mind. one of his hands moves from the shelf behind you and cups the back of your head, moulding his mouth against yours because it’s too much.

your mouth detaches from his momentarily, “i never stopped thinking about you, y,know?”

he’s close, he’s so fucking close, and your words only bring him closer. katsuki can’t stop his hips from bucking into your hands, slotting his mouth over yours again to conceal his sinful grunts and moans that threaten to turn into pathetic whines if he doesn’t let go right now. your nimble fingers weave through his hair, grabbing harshly despite your overall soft demeanour, and it’s enough to make him cum: with his hips jerking forward erratically and choked whines leaving his throat as you continue gliding your hand up and down, with your own rhythm that doesn’t match his at all, but feels so fucking good katsuki’s knees turn into jelly.

“you’re so good for me, katsuki.” you purr into his ear as he pants, unable to catch his breath and stares down at you with a gaze so fucked out it makes your expression turn fascinated once again, “so perfect.”

you kiss his neck, pecking almost chastely as you grab the small handkerchief from his suit’s pocket and clean off the mess from your fingers and his cock before tucking him back into his slacks, and katsuki’s never been more grateful because he doesn’t know if he could’ve done it so easily himself. not after what happened.

after bakugou’s breathing steadies, there is a familiar silence settling between you two, one that you disturb with your hands gripping his shoulders and eyes boring into his soul.

“i don’t know if someone’s already called you their muse,” you murmur softly, the earnestness of your gaze pulling him in, “but i would like to make you mine.”

fuck yes, he thinks and kisses you again.

#— teddy’s writing shop 𐙚🧸ྀི #i love this man #bakugou katsuki x reader #bakugou katsuki #bakugou x reader #bakugou x you #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugou katuski x reader #bnha bakugo katsuki #katsuki bakugo mha #mha #mha x reader #mha bakugou #mha x you #bnha x you #bnha x reader #bakugou katsuki x you #bakugou katsuki smut

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teaguehq · 2 days ago

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I'm glad you have more an appreciation for Calgary for staying here with me! And aside from the cold, I have to admit it's a nice city for all the fun things we've had the chance to see together. Seeing them with you makes them all the more fun, of course. That works out perfectly because I love attending your premieres and especially getting to see your projects on the big screen! I just know how much you put into your work, so it's no surprise it ends up being something special. People like a man in uniform for a reason, and I'm sure I'll be no different when I see Warfare, which you know I'm excited to see! I'm so happy you're not having to work either, and that I'm getting a little vacation for the holidays. It gave me the chance to finally drag you down to Florida with me, which I'm so happy you wanted to! Besides, we were due some warm weather after all that cold in Calgary and New York, don't you think? We can definitely think of a fun Halloween costume for next year, though closer to so we can match whichever ones are popular at the time if we'd like to. I'm sure it'll be just as fun dressing up with you again as it was this year! I appreciate that you'll always be understanding about distance when it comes to our relationship, and it certainly puts my mind at ease about ever losing you to that. Plus it means the world to me that we can celebrate our achievements together, including landing new roles! I can't help that being in your arms is so comforting, especially after a long day on set, so it's a good thing you don't mind the clinginess! You're already thinking up some new dates to plan? Because you know I'm interested in hearing those! And I may be planning something fun for Tampa while we're here, so it means a lot that you enjoy them. I think we both have a soft spot for the hot springs in Calgary, and no doubt we'll have to visit them again before my filming there is over. Recreating everything we've done there has been a lot of fun too, and you know I'm always up for that. I'm all for staying a little longer to take advantage of the hot springs since that seems like the perfect post-filming celebration. Not to mention I always love hot tubs with you, and loved them when we visited New York. I'm blushing a little at your saying you love me being all yours, and honestly, I like that too, along with you being all mine. If you love the way I look in your knitted items, just means you might have to knit more for me, don't you think? That feeling is so mutual, wanting to be near you, and it's impossible not to miss you when you're away. I'd wondered if Bach would be okay with traveling, so I'm just glad he's been such a good sport about it! And I'll still keep the secret about you liking my cuddles more than his and me liking your cuddles more, don't worry. It'll definitely be fun to meet up with Anya and Jamie in Paris to see the secret entrances to the Catacombs, and you know I'll always hold your hand through it all, too. I'd love to go back to that pub and see if it floods again, and if you'll have to carry me over your shoulder! I can't help blushing when you say things like I'm the sexiest, which it still feels a bit surreal that you think so. Though I'll always think you're more sexy, that's a given! Kissing you will always be the best way to start the day, and it's part of why I enjoy you being with me so much. We did an amazing job at breaking in your New York place, without a doubt, and I'm already looking forward to doing that all over again next time we're in the city. And my place too, since I know we have to break that in a little more. You're happy being where I am? That makes me happy to hear when it's so mutual, though I will say that I'm always willing to travel to London with you whenever you're missing it.

I'm so happy you enjoyed the bar with live music, since it's one of my favorite spots in New York! Dancing with you honestly just made it all the better. I'm all for taking more cooking classes too, because you're right, we need to learn more recipes to fill those books with! I'm happy you're as enthusiastic about that as I am, along with finding new meals we'll both enjoy. I'd been looking forward to the trip also, and we can go and meet Bentley tomorrow if you'd like! And you're thinking of giving the sanctuary a donation? You have such a kind heart, and I know they'd appreciate that a lot since like you said, they always need the funds to help out. I was happy you didn't mind meeting my parents, which I knew they'd like you! They'd been curious about you too, and I think they're relieved I'm with someone who's as amazing as you are. I understand being nervous since I'm nervous about meeting your family too, though I'm going to trust that they'll like me as much as you say. I'm excited to take you camping later in the week too, since I know a really great spot for it near a ranch where we can even see some cattle! I think that'll make it all the more fun. I'd love to visit those thermal pools in Turkey, especially since we already have a soft spot for those, and the surroundings are gorgeous. Having so many holidays planned suits me just fine too, when I'd love to see the world with you. And your spoiling me is honestly the best bonus, though you should expect some spoiling in return! Plus you're welcome to wake me up that way as many times as you'd like, given I enjoy it so much to start the day. Between that and our morning showers, I feel like I'm becoming more of a morning person, too. You don't have to be nervous about scaring me off, especially when I don't think that's possible. You…you love me? And think about all those things like living together and getting married? I can understand being nervous to say it when those are really big things to say, though I'm glad you did. I love you too, and I've known that for a little while - I think I kept quiet for the same reasons, not wanting to scare you and being a little afraid that it would. But I want you forever too, Joseph, and I can't ever see a time I don't, so it just makes me really happy we're on the same page, even if it's a little scary! But neither of us have to be scared when we're on the same page, right? You don't have to worry about me kissing you all the time, since I always will! Well, everyone was pretty amused by us when you made me run off set in the middle of a scene, though it's good to hear everyone's teasing you makes you feel at home! And that's good to know you'll always enjoy those kinds of favors, given they're a lot of fun with you and tend to linger in my mind, too. I always like having hot chocolate on the roof, and you being there and being in your arms just made it all the better, of course. I still smile so much thinking about that surprise in at your place and all the decorations, since you went all out for them, not to mention the red theme! We definitely had a perfect first Christmas together, and New Year's as well! I'm so happy you liked the gifts I gave you too, and we'll have to start mandolin lessons soon, don't you think? I couldn't resist getting you knitting supplies either, knowing hos much you like it! My gifts were so thought and lovely too, and I felt so spoiled! I know I'm never taking that necklace off, not to mention I'm excited about the cruise and planning that when we can! Bringing in the New Year kissing you in Times Square was incredible and I loved every moment. We'll have to go back to Devonian Gardens for another picnic before we leave Calgary too, don't you think? Which, I'm so happy you're not filming for a while and get to stay with me. I know we both need our parents, though it's nice we can take care of each other as well. Because that's mutual, that I'll always do whatever I can to make sure you feel happy and safe. | @josephafq

it's safe to say that you always make me feel amazing, love, and i can't help but feel amazing that i mean so much to you -- especially when you mean so much to me too. i've loved getting to stay with you while you've been filming too, and i'll admit that i've grown kind of fond of calgary! plus, it makes me feel good hearing that things are much better with me being there, i love that so much. i'll just say right now that you're the best date to have, and i love having you on my arm at premieres! though you're making me blush saying i do such amazing work, and it means the world that you think that, love. and it makes me feel good that you can't wait to see warfare as well, and i'm told i look pretty good in uniform, so you'll have some eye candy while watching as well! even though you know i love working, things feel so much better now that i'm not, and i can be with you all the time because i love being able to spend so much time with you. we'll have to think of a cute couple costume for next halloween, don't you think? and you know i'll never agree that i took the title sexy over you, love, though you're right that we both looked pretty amazing, and it was so much fun dressing up with you! again by making me blush, calling me extremely talented, and it feels so good hearing that you're proud of me, you know? you're right, even though we both hate the distance when we're apart, i know we'll both do everything in our power to make it work, and that's all that matters in the end. and it's safe to say when it comes to you -- i'll always be as understanding as i can be, yeah? and i love getting to celebrate with you when you land a new role because you're so talented, and i love when other people are getting to see that too! i'm very glad i don't have to worry about losing you, love, since i truly would be lost without you. and it feels good hearing that you'd never want to lose me either. i love that we're both clingy, it makes me smile when we want to hold onto each other so much. and it makes me feel good knowing that being in my arms is a cure-all for you because i love making you feel better, love, and love having you in my arms after you have a rough day on set. i love making you feel better. i'm so glad that you like the dates i plan, and i'm already thinking up some new dates to plan! it's also safe to say that i love when you plan dates too, love. and the one we had before we left for new york for christmas was amazing! you more than thanked me for always being here for you too, i loved it so much. and you know i love staying at the hotel near the hot springs a whole lot already, and i just love being in the hot springs with you! so it makes me smile to hear you say it's one of your new favorite places, since i love going there with you just as much. and we're getting so good at recreating everything we've both been thinking about when we're there, yeah? you know i'm all for making the hot springs our last visit once you're done filming, love, and maybe we can stay there a little longer too. what do you think? oh, we always have so much fun in hot tubs when we have access to them, right? and i'm so thankful that my building in new york has a hot tub and pool, since we had so much fun using them. especially with the weather being as cold as it was in new york! and i know we'll be doing the same in calgary, since the weather is colder there! glad you think it's adorable that i want you in that state to be for my eyes only -- and it feels good hearing that you want to be the only one that sees me in that state as well. i just love you being all mine, you know? and don't want to share that sight with anyone!

i'm so glad that you love my knitted items, love, and i'll admit that it makes me smile when you wear them as well. and i love the way you look in them -- though it's safe to say i love the way you look in anything! i just always want to be near you, you know? so the moment we're apart, i can't help but miss you. and i'm glad that it's the same for you, love, and i love that you want to be so close to me all the time. i'm glad that you were happy bach has been traveling with us, he travels better than i thought he would, honestly. though i'm glad that you don't love his cuddles more than mine, of course, and we'll just have to keep it from him that you like mine better! i'm glad that i always have you to hold my hand when we go on a haunted adventure with jamie and anya -- and i'll have to let them know about us all meeting up in paris sometime! and from what they tell me, they know all the secret entrances, or are at least always finding some, so it should be fun. it makes me smile when you laugh about me carrying you at the pub, and i love the idea of you laughing if i tossed you over my shoulder to carry you next time, which means we need to go back to that pub so i can do just that, yeah? oh, i love the reaction of you blushing when i call you sexy, which is why i say it so often, but also because you're the sexiest. it makes me smile when you say that you think i'm the sexier of the two of us, even if i don't agree with that, love. i'm glad my kisses that i give you before you need to be on set help start your day so perfectly, especially when i love waking up and being able to kiss you. that's how i feel when we get to sleep in as well, very spoiled, i love getting to be wrapped around you for as long as possible. i'll admit it's fun silencing you with kisses, especially when you laugh a little whenever i do it! it's safe to say we did a very good job of breaking in my new york place for christmas and the new years, wouldn't you agree? and i loved that we got to spend at least one day at your place breaking it in a little, we'll spend more time there though, no doubt about that. it's funny, i'm still not missing london all that much -- though i have a feeling it more has to do with the fact that i'm with you than anything else, and you feel like home to me so i'm happy being wherever you are. it was fun going to a bar in new york that played live music, especially loved when you danced with me. we have to take some more cooking classes, yeah? because we need to fill those recipe books that you got me for christmas, love. and i can't wait to fill them with you, i can't wait to find new things to cook with you. i know i'm going to look forward to going to florida with you, love, and it'll be so much fun meeting bentley since you adore him so much! of course i understand missing you, you're very easy to miss, just saying. the sanctuary runs on donations, yeah? maybe i can give them a little something as well as help out. what do you think? i don't think it's too soon to meet your parents, love, because i really want you to meet my family too. especially when i talk about you so much to them and they can't help but be curious, you know? i'm a little nervous about meeting them, though, because i want them to like me, but can we make a plan to meet them soon? then after i meet your parents -- you can meet my family, who i just know are going to love you. i can't wait to camp with you in flordia, and just spend so much time on holiday with you when we've got the free time, love.

i had a feeling once you looked up the pamukkale thermal pools you would think they were gorgeous -- so i'm glad you're all for heading to turkey for those, and i know you'll love the hotel as well, love. and i'll just say that i love we've got so many holidays planned, you know? i'm going to spoil you so much on every one of them! i'm glad that you think i look so adorable when i blush, that makes me smile and just makes me love when you make me blush all the more. hey, i'll always wake you up that way if you'd like, love, since it's my favorite way to wake you up and all. and i'm glad it makes early mornings a whole lot more fun too, and of course i love our morning showers just as much! yeah? i'm glad to hear there isn't a time when you don't want me, since i spend every day and probably every minute wanting you. i do think about our future a lot, and i'll admit i'm a little nervous sharing some of the things i think about, mostly because i don't want to scare you off. though it makes it easier when you say it feels impossible to not see a future with me, so it makes me feel better about saying it all out loud. but..i think about us in the future settling down together. getting a house, getting married -- even maybe starting a family if that's what we both want. it's scary as hell saying all that out loud; i'm not going to lie, but i…love you and it feels good to lay my emotion cards on the table with you. and i really do want you for as long as i can have you, so please let it be forever, yeah? you're the most beautiful person i know, love, and i'm always going to say that. i love that picturing me pouting makes you want to kiss me, but i love even more being with you so you can kiss me all the time you'd like to, and please kiss me all the time! love, it's so cute that you had to promise him you wouldn't abandon a scene again when i showed up on set this time around. though i love that they tease me a little about it too, it makes me feel pretty welcome there! believe me, anytime you give me something like the favor you return, i'm going to think about it for a long time. it was really fun having hot chocolate on your rooftop that one night, plus i loved having you in my arms and just looking out over the city. i'm really glad that we ended up doing new york for christmas, my apartment ended up looking amazing thanks to the people i hired, and it was just the perfect first christmas with you! and i'm still not over the gifts that you got me, love, and i can't wait for you to give me mandolin lessons! plus the braclet and the beatles gift, which still makes me smile so much that you got me that, and the knitting stuff, i loved it all so much. and new years was great with you too, love, so glad you got to be my first kiss of the new year, and you know you're going to be my only kiss for the rest of the year too. it was fun bringing in 2025 with you though! i'm so glad you suggested devonian gardens for our indoor picnic. by the way, it was so gorgeous there, and the picnic was perfect. yeah? i love when you encourage me to touch you more, just saying. i'm happy to be with you too, my love, and i'm glad that i don't have to start filming for a while now so i can stay with you. and i know, baby, that's why i'm so glad to be with you now since the material is so dark, and i'm glad that i can bring you some comfort when you're dealing with some rough things. and i'm so glad you had your parents for thanksgiving, it makes me smile that seeing them helped, but i get it because after filming warfare, i needed my mum and dad too. i'll also always take care of you, okay? never doubt that -- anytime you need me, i'll gladly be here and do whatever i can to make you feel better. || @teaguehq

#( conversations. )#( with: joseph quinn. )#long post tw

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moonshinesonic-moonstarslight · 2 days ago

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Bittersweet story notes:

God!Shang Qinghua works a little differently than usual here. Instead of having great powers, or memory of the plot, ect., Airplane is stuck with thoughts and ideas still affecting the world. Things get reconned and modified based on his ideas for new plants and beasts/plots or philosophical thoughts on certain subjects.

The catch? He's not the one who chooses these changes.

It's the System.

Who makes the changes as it wills while blaming Airplane for it should the idea not work to fix plot holes/worldbuilding. (No spending time to sit down and meditate on how the world should work doesn't please the System. Airplane tried. Only to get ignored and the System to take his random thoughts instead. He was so pissed about it.)

Airplane has found that there is three constants he has to keep regarding this world:

1: Porn (contrived, random, and apparently the biggest thing since the domestication of grain)

2: Misunderstandings and Miscommunication (which if avoided would have solved so many problems with the world)

3: Tragedy (though size of tragedy may vary)

And that the System has favoritism towards his random in-depth smut inducing ideas or taking his torture fantasies and making them reality on some random characters that Airplane has to interact with later.

It sucks and he's so very tired. (People long stopped being people to him, not because he thinks he is the only "real" person. But because the System doesn't treat them like people. Airplane has serious doubts that even he is real in this nightmare of a world. It's just better for his sanity if the people who has to suffer his contrived plots and fantasies are just canon fodder nobodies or fate bound puppets he is stuck watching move about to the script he wrote a lifetime ago.)

Shang Qinghua is a man of many masks. Even the "Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky" Shen Yuan meets and gets to know is one. (While people have many masks to go through life, Airplane treats each mask like a role to play and rarely lets his true personality come out. He's not sure who that is anymore, truth be told, and he's not comfortable trying to find out any time soon.)

One of the things Cumplane has to work through after the contrived smut at the beginning of the story is that Airplane's ideas do still affect the world. And that Shen Yuan hasn't actually been getting to know the man who wrote his most hated (*cough*and loved*cough) book over these last few months. But instead has been seeing his "persona of a hack smut author". Dragging Airplane out of his bundle of personas and masks is going to be a challenge...

Especially due to the fact that the idea that the System grabbed and used on them wasn't just a mere 'fuck it out and you're good' flower. Nope! It was Airplane's idea for a more romantic/consensual fuck flower. Basically it's a wedding flower. Used to help lovers get over wedding night nerves and used in some cultures (both human and demon) to elope. [Airplane hadn't figured out how it worked ecologically yet, just culturally and biologically/spiritually] The biggest thing about this flower is that it needs a kiss (on the mouth) and sex to have the marriage be complete and valid. It is possible to trick the senses into thinking that the "marriage rite" the flower promotes is done without actually going through with it. But it's a bit tricky to pull off as those who are under the effects desperately want to go through with it properly.

Because the flower doesn't merely promote sex, but honest feelings for their partner as well. (Can easily backfire, but in Airplane's defense he had just thought this up a few minutes before Shen Yuan ran into it. He hadn't had time to work all the details before the System went yoink!)

So yeah, Cumplane is married now. And getting a divorce from an elopement with this flower is extremely hard. Like you have a better chance fighting Bingge with no golden finger level hard.

Neither are taking it well to say the least.

#story writing #story notes #svsss #shang qinghua #shen yuan #Cumplane #Bittersweet Fantasies #Deity!Shang Qinghua #God!Shang Qinghua #Why are you like this System?

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punkypiscesell-writes · 2 days ago

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when it comes without a warning - ch. 1

chapter 1 - previous chapter

Javier Peña x plus size f! reader

summary: You meet a stranger at a New Years Eve party, not knowing where that chance encounter might lead.

warnings (updated after each chapter): fake dating AU, strangers to lovers, romcom, 90’s vibes, angst, small town dynamics, slow burn, pining, insecurities, drinking, smoking, food related descriptions, family mentions, mention of pregnancy, cynicism about love. The picture in the header is just for the visual and isn't an indication of the reader's skin color. Not beta read. If you see any broken Spanish, please let me know!!

word count: 9.4k

notes: Here we go, chapter 1! I hope you enjoy it <3 I will be updating this story each month, the final chapter coming out in July. The next update will be on Valentine’s Day.

dividers by cafekitsune

When you were a child, you watched a movie every Saturday evening with your mom. They made you think your life would follow a specific path. Go to school, graduate, you’d find a boyfriend who you’d someday marry and have kids with.

You’d buy a house somewhere quiet with a big garden and a picket fence. The kids would grow up and you’d watch them become their own people while knowing you’d always have your first love with you. You’d look at pictures that would span years until those would turn into decades, with the same people in them getting greyer and wrinkles all over their faces. It would be perfect.

What you didn’t understand back then, was how life doesn’t usually go like in those picture perfect stories. Rarely it’s wrapped neatly with shiny paper and finished off with a flawless bow.

You watched your friends find their first loves while you became a wallflower. You didn’t know what to do in life while others were making decisions about their futures. One by one your old friends moved away to chase their dreams, forgetting the people and memories back home. With the need to get out of the town where you grew up in, like your friends had, you realized you could turn your hobby into a job.

Chasing a dream makes people optimistic and the possibility of having your own story unfold like in one of those movies you used to watch with your mom seemed possible again. You kept your eyes open, even dared to step out of your wallflower persona, full of hope and enthusiasm. When your story still kept you waiting, you understood how chasing love doesn’t always mean chasing romantic love.

In the glimmer of a big city, you found new friends. Abigail, Eileen and Mary were actually interested in talking with you and getting to know who you are outside of being just someone’s friend. They already knew each other having grown up in the same town, but you fit in with them like the last pea in a pod.

“What’s holding you back, you can move anywhere!” Mary drunkenly encouraged on the night of your graduation, while the humidity of Austin bathed you in sweat.

“Yeah, you can start a bakery anywhere!” Abigail offered you her glass to pour more tequila into. How she said it, like it was the simplest thing in the world, made you laugh, and you thought she was joking until you realized she wasn’t. She was far from it.

“And then what? Just rot in some dying town until the end of my days?”

The seed was already planted though. They had a point. You could start a bakery anywhere if you wanted to and you could find help with the business side of things, especially in the beginning.

When you sobered up and you were sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool leaning your elbows against the kitchen island in your small, hole in the wall kitchen. You started to plan it. The more you planned, the more convinced you were you could make it work.

The movies you watched while growing up rarely had people move into a small town with a population of only a few thousand when they could move into a big city and keep those big dreams alive.

You bought a small space for your bakery from a building that used to have a restaurant. Mrs. Sánchez has a flower shop next door, and she has always been supportive of you, even when for a while you were the “new girl” in town. The whispers around you and your business were excessive, but eventually the whispering turned into actual conversations with you, rather than about you.

You had your best friends being part of their family businesses. Your bakery started to bloom. You were in control of the strings in your hands and all the puzzle pieces were clearly laid out, all of them locking into place.

“We want you to clear your schedules next July,” Noah begins with his soft voice, his calmness the complete opposite to Abigail who is hanging from his arm.

“We’re getting married y’all!” Abigail yells and pulls her hand from her fiancé, flashing a big, shiny ring for the guests to see. Your face drops as an excited shock washes through the room of Noah’s family’s luxurious farmhouse that they’ve had since forever. The high ceilings echo the eruption of cheering and clapping with the sound of glasses tinkling together in toast. You raise yours and smile, your feet rooted against the floor.

Your best friends. You look at them fawning over the ring, the smiling couple surrounded by their closest friends.

“Finally, everyone knows!”

“Now we don’t have to hide it any longer!” Eileen and Mary laugh. Your smile doesn’t falter, it doesn’t even flinch. But it’s like a cold shower that runs down from the back of your neck to the bottom of your spine. Abigail’s eyes flash to you after the women have said the words out loud.

You used to be a part of that group of best friends. In the last couple of years they’ve turned into people you sometimes hang out with. The frequent dinners and game nights at each other’s places first turned into occasions that happened once a month, then into once every six months when schedules and life got in the way.

First it was Mary, who announced she had reconnected with her high school sweetheart. Then it was Eileen who found her boyfriend through Mary’s boyfriend. For a while it was just you and Abigail, the two of you against the world. You were bridesmaids to Mary, then to Eileen, then Mary got pregnant and Eileen right after her. You and Abigail held the fort as the only single women in your group.

And then suddenly it was only you. Their lives are different now, as is yours. You’re not in your early twenties anymore, naively finding your way in this world. Sometimes you wonder if you’ve chosen the right place for you, but you’ve also understood that you might not want the future with the house and a picket fence, a husband and kids and the pictures on a mantelpiece. Your best friends want that while you’ve chosen another path.

Then, before you can delve too deep into other existential questions, you remember a cake order that has to be filled next week or how you have to make one more batch of the new malted wheat sourdough bread because your customers are emptying your shelves before 8 am.

“So, what do you think?” Abigail catches up to you after you’ve congratulated the pair. She reaches her left hand towards you and wiggles her hand.

You hold her fingers and twist them gently. The rock sparkles in the champagne hued light of the farmhouse. “It’s beautiful,” you smile.

“Noah chose it himself, with the help from my mom. I can’t believe he managed to do all that and I had no idea!” Abigail sighs and pulls her hand back to marvel at the jewel around her ring finger.

You sip from your drink, the alcohol almost a welcomed friend in the full house. The atmosphere is electric from the unexpected news. The music is turned even louder than it already was. The New Year is only a few hours away and you don’t see the party dying down anytime soon.

A little quiet wouldn’t do you any harm, especially as someone keeps bumping against your back, and pushes you to give them more room.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you something.” Abigail pulls you to the side, somehow managing to find a corner that isn’t occupied.

“I’d love to ask you a favor.” You’ve always been impressed by her ability to make her eyes so innocently big, pleading in a way that is caring and can make even the coldest person believe whatever she says is their own idea.

Abigail lifts her hands to your forearms and squeezes with a smile that reminds you of a child you saw at your shop yesterday after he had seen the experimental chocolate and peanut cupcakes you had made. After seeing his face, you might bring them back when you have an overstock of the ingredients, just to see that same kind of enthusiasm again.

“Remember that cake you baked for my 27th birthday?” Abigail asks. She doesn’t have to remind you. It was an elaborate white chocolate vanilla cake with raspberry compote filling. You topped it with handmade chocolate decorations that you created after work, the hours stretching closer to 20 spent in your bakery that day. Your back ached and you were stressed because you wanted the cake to be perfect. It was all worth it.

You nod. “I’d love it if you could make our wedding cake. We’ll of course pay, unless…” Abigail smiles with her lips tightly shut, the apples of her cheeks glowing.

“Unless you want me to give you a wedding cake as a wedding gift?” You fill in for her, the idea cracking your smile.

“Yes! Oh my God, it would be perfect! I’d be so incredibly lucky to have your creation at our wedding. It would be so special!” She grabs at you and pulls you into a tight hug that crackles against your tight shoulder where the muscle has been burning for the past week.

“I think we could make it work.” You swallow, defeated by your inability to say no to Abigail. One wedding cake. It’ll only be one wedding cake, among the other wedding cake orders that flow in during the busiest season of people tying the knot.

“I also have one other thing in mind.” You immediately prepare mentally for whatever she’s going to ask from you next.

“At my wedding, I’d love for you to bring a plus one.” Your mind goes blank.

“What?”

“The wedding is still six months away, so you have plenty of time. I just don’t want to see you alone there!” Abigail laughs and rubs at your arms. It has been a while since you wore anything else than your comfy clothes at home or your work uniform that consists of soft cotton T-shirts all in creamy white, tucked in your jeans and under an apron. Your friend running her hands up and down against the fabric on your arms, the blouse is suddenly coarse and too hot.

“I don’t have time for dating,” you remind her.

“You never have time for dating! I think that’s not true, you’re just afraid of finding someone and falling in love. That’s okay,” Abigail’s tone is encouraging, but her words sting. She’s not wrong. Of course you’re scared, you’ve never really dated anyone. The only dates you’ve been to were either pity dates set up by your high school friends or a few failed first meetings with guys who had been your customers at the bakery and who now only visit when they have to get something special for their girlfriends and wives.

“Fear not, you’re meeting someone tonight,” your friend’s eyes glimmer mischievously.

“What?” You hiss immediately.

“Noah has a friend who’s single. We think you’ll like him a lot.” Each of Abigail’s words is emphasized by a nod of her head or a poor attempt at a wink.

“We?”

“Eileen, me and Mary of course, silly,” she whacks at your arm playfully. Her cheeks blush while your stomach is heavy with dread.

“I really don’t think it’s a great idea. Also, I don’t need a date, it’s a wedding, it’ll be fun no matter if I have a date or not.”

“Bullsh–,” Abigail shushes herself and makes sure no one heard her. Her eyes soften to the level of pity. “It’s okay for you to find someone special, we all have. You’ll love it when someone takes care of you and pampers you and you won’t have to be alone anymore. You want to get married, you want a family! You’ve said it yourself, remember?” She laughs and tilts her head.

“Yeah!” You hope she doesn’t hear the doubt in your voice.

“We’re making sure you’re not going to end up alone.”

“What do you have in mind then?” Abigail turns immediately from you and leaves you standing next to the huge Christmas tree still fully decked and deeply green. You see her long, blonde hair swinging as she makes her way through the crowd. The curls at the ends are perfect. You smile at an older couple and wish them a happy New Near under your breath as they pass you by, a suspicious look in their eye while you try to keep track of Abigail.

You don’t have to wait for long. You see her first, then a tall man in a crisp white button down shirt behind her. He eyes you up and down immediately, his eyes blue and hard. You can’t read the look he’s giving you, but it’s not pleasant. He makes you nervous.

“Here’s John,” Abigail announces with a smile, and a hand that she waves down from his shoulder to midriff. You’re cornered between Abigail, John and the Christmas tree. The man nods his head and keeps his eyes locked on you while you notice the drink in his hand, a glass too gentle to be held in a death grip like his.

“Noah always calls him Johnny,” She proudly pats him on the shoulder and pushes John closer to you. The wall bumps against your back.

“He doesn’t,” John argues. His face twists in confusion, while his words are drowned by Abigail’s enthusiasm.

“Noah always tells good stories about John, how they’ve known for years, and how reliable he is. And you’re both into…” Abigail smiles, her eyes a little empty. She looks at you and massages John’s shoulder with her bejeweled hand. The engagement ring sparkles in the soft lighting of the family home. “You’re both into business! You’re entrepreneurs! I think you might have interesting conversations in the horizon,” Abigail chirps and finishes the last note with a smile that reveals her perfectly white teeth. Something catches her attention. Her eyes get larger, and her cheeks burn bright red. Noah stands close by with some of his friends, deep in conversation.

“Oh, excuse me, I have somewhere to be,” she points somewhere towards the crowd of people and disappears into it with a wave of her hand, in the opposite direction from Noah.

You stand awkwardly next to just as awkward John. He smells like aftershave from 30 years ago. It’s not completely unpleasant, only something you can imagine he got as a regifted present on Christmas. It’s warm, a little spicy, and a little too musty. He might like it, or then he wore it to keep unpleasant people away. You sip at your drink and try to take a step back without John noticing. The wall is in your way.

“We should sit down,” he tells you. You stare at his back when he leaves you standing alone, and only turns around to check if you’re following when he has found a couch end for you both to sit on.

He sits on the sofa with his legs spread wide. His face is smug, borderline conceited, when you make space for yourself next to him. How did Abigail, Mary and Eileen ever think you’d be into this guy? You try to relax, sip on your drink and smile at John. He smiles back. Maybe he’s not as bad as you’re making him out to be in your head. You don’t know him. Maybe your friends have a valid reason to believe you two could hit it off.

John pushes his leg against yours, seeking physical contact. You pull back from him immediately and lock your inner thighs together to keep yourself as small as you can. Your jeans aren’t tight but the way you’re sitting makes them dig into your skin.

“So…” John begins and drinks from his glass.

“So…” You repeat awkwardly, waiting for his next move.

“You want to hear how much money I make? I know women like to hear that. You don’t seem like an exception.” Your smile tightens, it’s a mask. The contents of your glass would be perfect on this guy, maybe he’s even begging for it.

“Like Abigail said, I’m an entrepreneur…” he talks in a monotone voice, reading off an invisible script. You don’t really even care if the mask on your face slips, not when John drones on and on about his savings, his investments and how he wants a stay-at-home wife to take care of the kids and home while he’s working.

“My business will become massive in the next ten years. Yes, I plan ten years in advance. I recommend it to everyone who…” you drown John’s voice into the different voices around you. He’s like the perfect candidate for people watching.

Abigail and Noah’s parents are standing in one corner of the room, with lighthearted looks on their faces. Noah’s brother is leaning against a wall, looking bored as ever as he snacks on something from the snack table. Mary and Eileen are swaying to the music, pointing out different people from the party goers.

Abigail is with a man who you don’t know. She has her hand on his bicep, then she lifts it to his shoulder. Up and down she moves it, while trying to step closer to him. The man in a dark blue button up, his hair combed to the back with a few fly aways sticking out on his temple, a well-groomed mustache moves over his top lip, knows when to take a step back and shake her hand off him without seeming rude. Is she drunk? Abigail straightens the man’s collar. Her hand lingers on it, her fingertips touch his neck before she pulls her hand back.

You’ve seen the man before. You’ve caught him staring at the pastries and bread in the bakery window a few times but he hasn’t come in.

“… You do for work?” The question is already fading. John’s tone is cool, almost as uninterested as you are. The distant look in his eyes isn’t helping to get you more invested in his monologue.

“I have my own business.” You answer, even to you in a too formal tone.

“Oh, what kind?” John leans forward, a spark of interest on his face.

“I have a bakery downtown.”

“Ah.” John scratches the back of his neck and shakes his head. “That’s a risky business endeavor. Have you thought about something else when this one bites the dust?”

You grind your teeth together behind the smile that you try to keep even remotely kind looking. You have to get out of here. You spot Abigail mingling with the guests, now with Mary and Eileen, who all turn towards you. Abigail draws a heart in the air with her index fingers and points to John. Miserably you turn back to him, who is still talking about different options for you.

“You could sell your business, cut your losses before they’re too overwhelming for you to handle.” Mary’s thumbs up don’t cover the murderous snarl you give them, your mouth twisted when you shake your head “no”. They’re back on the move, finding a quieter spot while laughing. You can hear it over the steady buzzing of conversations.

John has moved on from your imaginary bankruptcy to talking about his newest investments.

“Who handles them for you”

“Hmm?”

“Your investments, who handles them for you?”

“I haven’t really looked into it.” The bottom off your glass stares back at you, the rest of the alcohol now going down your throat.

“You should! Having a fickle business like yours isn’t going to keep you afloat for too long. Especially in a place like this. I could give you some recommendations on how to maximize your profits.” Your skin crawls. How satisfying it would be to yell at this man to shut the fuck up.

You don’t. You see the people around you, your customers. They have their usual orders, some have something else on a specific day, and some stick to the same baked goods day after day. You know them by name. You remember the stories they’ve told you, how something you made was shared with a loved one and new memories were made. John doesn’t seem like a person who would understand the value of memories since they’re not monetary.

Your friends clearly don’t have any idea what kind of a man you’d want to be with. To be fair, neither do you. But John? Setting you up with someone who is as interesting as the worn-out, uncared-for leather of his shoes, at least you can say who isn’t your type.

Sitting next to him, his knee still bumping against you, making your skin itch, even when you try to keep distance to him, listening to him ramble on about investing and profits, your friends would be bored out of their minds in your place as well. Maybe they haven’t spoken with John. Maybe they haven’t even met him before. Your fingers find your gold chain against your chest. Its dainty links run between your thumb and forefinger, the familiar trail soothing you.

“If you’re free tomorrow, I could give you some tips on finding–“

“Look, John,” you cut him off with the drop of your necklace back against your skin. “You’re… clearly knowledgeable about money, and someone might be very interested in hearing about all of this. But that’s not me.”

“What are you saying then?” He’s genuinely surprised.

“I don’t think we should explore anything further.” You let him down gently and give him an apologetic look.

“Okay,” he tilts his head with deep creases across his forehead. “I’m a bit surprised. There’s not many, if any, people paying any attention on you here. I’m a catch looking for someone to carry his children who will become the next president or congressman some day and you’re just a bakery keeper who clearly has let herself go. But whatever, I’ll respect your honesty.” He says it all with a smile on his face, the insult somehow meant to sound like a compliment. His brows rise and fall after every other word, like they’re part of the conversation too. You stare at him, your mind blank, your mouth with a life of its own.

“What a small man,” you say to him and stand up with a laugh. He says something more, but you don’t stay to listen. There’s nothing more you’d want in this moment than get away from this man and to refill your glass with the punch served here.

It splashes against the edges of your glass when you make your way to the balcony. You want to hide from the people inside the party. From John. He can think whatever he wants, you’re not fazed by his rudeness, by anyone’s rudeness for that matter. It doesn’t mean what he said didn’t hurt you.

The dusky balcony is the place to be, away from the golden lights, the music and people who apparently don’t even see you. An unreasonable fear rises from the back of your mind with an image of John chasing after you onto the balcony, telling you how great he is and how generous he is for even agreeing on a blind date with you. You’d need to understand how this night wouldn’t change his life, but it would still change yours.

There’s a lonely chair behind the corner, away from direct eyeline of the celebrations. There’s barely any light here, only a small lantern next to a flower arrangement on a small table next to the chair. You sit down and relax. The drink feels good, comforting, on your over stimulated nerves. Muffled music and people talking, laughing, puts a rift between you and whatever is happening inside.

There haven’t been many moments when you are truly alone and when you are, you usually invite it with open arms. What follows that alone time is usually a guest you rarely want to invite along. Being alone is almost easy, being lonely always chips away at your heart. At the belief that maybe there’s someone out there somewhere for you as well.

You’ve accomplished so much in the last few years. You can be proud of so many things you’ve made happen by yourself. At the same time, you have to admit that it has all happened because you’ve been ready to sacrifice something.

You go with the flow, but you’re looking in at your own life rather than living it. You’re waiting for something without knowing what that could be. Apathy follows the gentle buzz of the alcohol in your system. You breathe deep against the coolness of the night. At least your skin isn’t pouring sweat while wondering which turn you forgot to take at some point in life to find a missing, nameless puzzle piece.

A clink and a soft scratch of glass. You’re ready to tell John to leave you alone. Instead, your eyes meet the deepest of ambers, sitting on the other side of the little table next to you where the lantern and flowers have been arranged. Someone laughs inside in a way that reminds you of a breathless donkey.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, sorry,” he says while pushing his glass further from the edge of the table, his voice deep, soft like a cloud.

“I didn’t know someone was here.” You’re ready to stand up, find another hiding place and leave this man alone.

“I should’ve said something.” You nod at his words, unsure of what to do. Maybe he wants to be left alone…

“You know the couple?” He asks, cutting your plans to leave short.

“I’m friends with Abigail.” He smiles, acknowledges your words and presses his hand against his chest.

“I’m one of the groomsmen.” You smile a tentative smile back and hear the conversation between you two die down.

Even when you’re not talking, you find yourself glued to your seat. His presence is overwhelming. It draws you in, makes you nervous with curiosity. He’s looking out into the vast darkness facing the farmhouse, forcing the building to become a lighthouse in the quiet. Your left side, his side, is vibrating from his nearness. The little hairs on your arm stand up, reaching for him. There’s electricity in the air, zinging gently, a hum in your ear as you listen to it. Listen to him take a deep breath in and push it out with slow force.

He's the one Abigail spoke with earlier. The one with the mustache and dark blue button up. The one who you’ve seen stop in front of your bakery but never come in. The town gossip train would help you recognize who he is, but you’ve tuned that station off.

You hear about some things regardless, while some other things aren’t for your ears, you’ve decided. Maybe that decision would be different if you had grown up in a small town like this, your life filled with people knowing what is happening in other people’s lives.

“Do you mind?” His question is hushed. There’s a cigarette between his fingers, and a question in the quirk of his brow. You shake your head and watch him pull out a lighter. It flickers a golden glow against his face when he has the cigarette hanging between his lips. The embers light up and then go to rest when he takes a drag, the smoke in his lungs until he breathes it out slowly. The cloud hangs in the air and drifts towards you. You inhale the rich aroma mixed with burning sweetness.

“I’m quitting in the New Year,” he tilts his head towards you, his eyes like black embers fixated on you through his lashes, in the lowlight of the candle and whatever light streams from the window.

“And this is your last one?” Your voice tunes itself to the quiet smokiness of his tone without you trying.

“Last, or second to last, I haven’t decided yet.” He rolls the butt against his fingers and flicks it. The burning flecks distinguish in the air. There’s loud cheering inside, rattling against the calm atmosphere outside.

The man looks inside, his focus on the noise as well. “Why aren’t you with them?”

“Abigail had set me up with Noah’s godawful friend, I had to take a break. Apparently, I need a plus one for the wedding.”

“With who?” Another drag from the cigarette.

“John?” He nods at your answer, and blows out the smoke to the opposite direction from you.

“They’re not close, not really even friends,” the man muses and turns his eyes on you.

Like an electric shock, you have to turn away from him and stare out towards the dark. This man is intense, demanding in a gentle way, his attention on you and only you. He’s not filling a silence with useless noise, but with observing. You run your necklace between your fingers again, twist it around one and draw a line against your skin over and over.

“I think she just wanted me to find someone.” Wish that someone wasn’t a self-important dickhead.

“The wedding isn’t in months.”

“My friends know I need time to think, and to take it slow.” The man inhales from his cigarette again and raises his brows in what could only mean silent disbelief.

“What?”

“Just wondering why Abigail wanted to set you up with an asshole like John, everyone knows he’s a player.” His words pour on you like ice. The more you repeat the last part in your head, the more convinced you are it wasn’t a serious setup, but a foolish prank.

Maybe listening to the grapevine would’ve been a good thing at least once. You take a big sip of your drink and let it burn in your throat as you swallow it down slowly.

There’s more cheering and clapping coming from inside, pulling you to look in at the party as well. Abigail is standing in front of the guests, Mary and Eileen next to her. Abigail has a pouch in her hand, where Eileen is digging something from.

“And why aren’t you apart of that?” The man’s low voice rumbles slowly against your eardrums.

Mary and Eileen open something in their hands, small pieces of paper, and show them to the other guests. People, mostly women, erupt into gleeful joy. Bridesmaid and maid of honor. “I don’t know.” Your voice is barely above a whisper.

“Why aren’t you in there celebrating?” You turn the question to him with a determined smile tugging against your cheeks. You should’ve known you won’t be part of the wedding party, it shouldn’t be a surprise. It shouldn’t hurt. You cover it with the smile and hope it will ease the sting.

The man notices your attempt at directing the focus away from yourself. He takes one last drag and then stubs the cigarette against an ashtray on the floor. He blows the smoke from his lungs and manages to turn more towards you.

He spreads his legs in the rickety garden chair, but his point isn’t to establish dominance like John, but to slide down and relax in the too small chair in his snuggly fitting dark jeans.

“I had to take a break,” he repeats your answer back to you. From his mouth it’s vague, words that hold some other meaning that he’s debating sharing with you. “Abigail is busy playing matchmaker in there.” He tilts his head to lean his temple against his fingers, his elbow perfectly perched on the arm of the chair.

Him facing you, his chin lifted, the amber of his eyes flickering in the candlelight, draws heat to the surface of your skin. Your chest, the back of your neck, your cheeks. It’s annoying that this stranger can cause a reaction like it.

You want to defy it and push back. You face him as well, stare him right in the eyes. Lava splashes on you from your head to your toes. Your palms sweat and you swallow, still with a calm smile on your face. It has become your safety blanket that you can hide behind. No matter if it’s a true kindness or you’re killing someone with it, the smile is familiar to you now.

“She found someone for you as well?”

“She suggested it, but I turned her down.”

“And that’s why you had to take a break?”

“No, it was because of the other guests.” He looks away. A small victory you didn’t think you’d get. His answer stirs the win into confusion.

“Why?” A question you have no right to ask, out of your mouth before you even consider asking it.

He lifts his eyes back to you, the look in them warm but laced with a warning. It’s not your place to know. It’s a question too complicated in its simplicity, the answer even simpler, yet more complicated.

Two can play this game. Who hides better behind a mask? Who stays calm when someone tries to crawl under the other’s skin? He’s a master at it, catching you off guard, letting you think you had won him in the game he has perfected over the years.

You’re knocked off the number one spot and he figures it out immediately, when your smile cracks and you have to hide behind the excuse of taking a sip from your glass. There’s only a little left, one more mouthful and you’re done. You don’t want to see his victory, but you also don’t want to seem scared.

The look on his face isn’t victory. Instead, you’re met with a man who is deep in thought. His brows are lightly pulled together, defining the two small lines between them. His eyes are veiled, only a slight shine from the candle still reaching them. Yes, he won.

“Well, I think it’s my time to go.” He snaps out of his thoughts. The watch on his wrist flashes with the reflection of light hitting the glass face.

“It’s not even midnight yet.” He sounds almost alarmed.

You circle the drink in your glass a couple of times and see his glass on the table. You stand up, lean over the table and smile more to the empty glass than to him. “Happy New Year,” you say out loud and clink your glasses together. The sweet and sour taste is soothing and if you were alone, you probably would drink a few more to ring in the special evening.

“I’ll see you around,” you tell the man who follows your every move. He watches your hand as you place your glass next to his. He watches you wipe at the backside of your jeans to make sure there’s no dust on them from the chair. His eyes are burning against your back as you leave him sitting on the old, weathered chair.

Someone opens the door to the balcony and sticks their head out. Noah.

“Hey, have you seen Javi?” his voice is a little hoarse, joy on the corners of his eyes.

“Who?”

“Javier, dark shirt, jeans, brown hair…” the man’s presence appears on your back, lifting all the hairs of your skin again, heat coursing through you.

“I’m here,” his voice is like the stickiest and sweetest honey. It’s also much closer than you anticipated. You look over your shoulder. Javier is right behind you, his chest almost against your back. Noah’s face lights up, clearly pleased he found his friend.

“Is Abigail somewhere? I’m going to be heading out, I just want to congratulate her once more.” Javier stands still and manages to shake your voice only by being close to you.

“But it’s not even midnight yet, you should stay a bit longer,” Noah pleads, a relaxed slurring in his speech.

“I think I’m done for the night, just too tired to keep on partying. Thank you for inviting me and congratulations once more.” You hug Noah, genuinely happy for him. His tan skin glows with pure excitement.

“Can you believe her, leaving before midnight on New Year’s Eve.” Noah points his thumb at you, the jokey question directed at Javier.

“I know, almost like tonight doesn’t change anything.” His sarcasm makes you snort, and Noah fake a laugh.

“Abi is downstairs. Thanks for coming, and thank you for the gift,” he winks at you, the promised wedding cake now apparently confirmed.

Abigail entertains some older people, talking with them, sharing moments from how she met Noah and how he proposed. You barely get a word in and her answer to you leaving is: “Okay, I’ll call you.” before she’s back to talking with the people who have made her their center of attention.

Luckily Mrs. Sánchez is on her way out with her husband, taking you to town. You have one neighbor, living in the apartment on the other side of the corridor from you on top of the carpenter shop. You’ve met him plenty of times since you moved in six years ago, but you can’t for the life of you remember his name.

You’re already sleeping, groggy and confused when you hear your neighbor counting down from 10 with his guests, the cheering overwhelming even through your wall. Auld Lang Syne starts to play, and you lay in bed, staring at the blank surface of your ceiling. Not even the streetlights can light your apartment enough.

Maybe this year you’ll push yourself to enjoy your life rather than watch it pass you by. You make the resolution before you fall back asleep, barely remembering it the next morning.

Time ticks on even after midnight and the days after don’t create a limbo effect anymore when you go to work. It’s darkest when you wake up at 3.15 and head to the bakery thirty minutes later. The morning rises as you’re tipping proofed loafs from their baskets onto the floured wooden table for scoring. You’re trying a new leaf design, lashing the surface with a sharp blade that glides against the dough like butter.

When you’ve pushed the loaves into the oven you take the next trolley of bread from the walk-in fridge and under the zippered hoods you uncover what you made yesterday in preparation for today, buttery wheat loaves in their neat little rectangle pans. One trolley after the other you solve the walk-in fridge puzzle, pulling out hooded trolleys. Yellow hoods for sweet products, blue for savory.

“Morning!” Lili, your bakery assistant, greets as she walks in from the small locker room. Unlike you, who stayed up too late writing down ideas for Abigail and Noah’s wedding cake, her under eyes are bright and her voice clear after a well-rested night.

“Good morning,” you croak and clear your throat right after. Your shoulder complains as you fill in the vanilla tartlets, row after row of neat custardy pies waiting for a couple of slices of syrupy lemons Lili has prepared for them.

As the shop fills with the fresh loaves, rolls and biscuits, the last sweet things are baking in the ovens, filling the bakery and shop with a sugary, toasty smell. Butter, nuts, fruits, spices and chocolate, are like a dessert after the early morning savory baking.

You’re filling cream puffs when the doors open and the first customer walks in. You have the bakery door open but can’t see the shop from your sturdy work table. You can only listen to the sounds that indicate your work paying off.

The bell above the door tinkles constantly, people walking in and out with fresh goods in paper bags and bakery carton boxes, careful not to shake or mush anything that is even a little more fragile than the thick crusted breads.

Lili’s enthusiastic voice answers questions with a constant smile. “Yes, these have a hazelnut and chocolate filling.” “There is ginger and clove in the cookie dough.” “It’s the freshest today, but you can use the rest for bread pudding or French toast in the next few days.” “Sadly, that was our December limited edition cupcake, but we’re planning something for Easter.”

If she’s not answering questions, then she’s taking down orders and repeating every detail to get everything right. The free spots in your calendar for orders are filling out fast. You’re counting each one in your head after Lili repeats them, checking off the orders list you remember by heart. Someone asks for a wedding cake order for July, one already taken by Abigail and Noah.

“Mr. Peña is here,” Lili sticks her head into the bakery, pulling you from weighing ingredients for sticky cinnamon rolls. It’s eleven in the morning, you’re about thirty minutes early from your work schedule. The radio in the corner plays an older song softly, the words flowing from your mouth in a quiet hum. You wash your hands and check your face, wiping the remaining moisture from your temples as the ovens are finally cooling down. You take the small bakery box full of pistachio cream puffs from the fridge and take it to the register.

Seeing the shop full is always overwhelming, almost intimidating, especially when most look at you as they see you walking out of the bakery.

“Morning everyone,” you greet with easiness, the words wiping away your nerves. Mr. Peña is third in line, standing with someone who is looking at the small packets of chocolate confections that were leftover from your New Year’s specials.

You take one of the raisin and cashew loafs from the shelf and push it into a brown paper bag, and wheat knot rolls into another bag.

“Mr. Peña, what can I get for you?” Lili asks, her voice a little higher and squeakier than normal.

“Those ham and cheese muffins are looking fine today,” his voice rumbles. You smile to yourself as you pack a few lemon and poppyseed cookies into a box.

“¿Quieres algo dulce?” He asks his companion just as you turn with all the baked goods in your arms. You lay them on the table next to the register, Lili taping the muffin box closed and getting to work typing the prices as zero dollars.

“What’s this?” Mr. Peña asks under his brown, wide brimmed cowboy hat.

“You gave me the tip about Arnold’s shop, and he came to fix the oven right before New Year’s. It’s as good as new now. He also checked the other one, to see if it has the same problem with the wiring. This is the least I can give you as a thank you.” If you had ordered someone to come in from further, you would’ve paid a pretty penny for a simple fix that was done in fifteen minutes. You couldn’t be more grateful for Mr. Peña suggesting someone who he trusts.

“That was nothing, Sam is an old friend, he would miss his own funeral just to fix appliances,” he laughs and gives room for his companion to step next to him. Javier’s eyes bore into yours, a soft smile in them. He lays the little confection box on the table next to the breads and sweets.

“This is my son, Javier.” He pushes his aviator sunglasses into the neckline of his pink button up t-shirt.

“We met at Noah’s party a few days ago,” Javier says, making you nod along with his words.

“Oh! Well, then you need to know this little lady makes the best cream puffs in town,” Mr. Peña directs his attention to you. The smile lines get deep right by his eyes when the corners of his mouth turn up.

Javier hums in recognition, patiently watching you try to gather your thoughts. The two men look the same as they stand next to each other, the generation the only thing setting them apart. Javier seems to tower over his dad, his back straight and his shoulders wider with age pressing them forward for his dad.

“That’s a bit over exaggerated isn’t it, since there’s no other bakeries in town,” you turn the compliment into a joke, and your focus back to Javier’s dad to get yourself to calm down. Javier’s presence makes perspiration prickle at the small of your back.

“That’s why I said the best in town,” Mr. Peña jokes back.

“Exactly!” The shared laugh eases your discomfort. Why Javier makes you nervous, you haven’t decided yet.

“So, how much do I have to pay for these?”

“Nothing. Like I said, it’s the least I can do to thank you.”

“No, of course I pay, this is too much.”

“Mr. Peña, you helped me when you didn’t have to. These are on the house.” The people behind Javier and his dad are starting to get curious about what you’re giving away for free.

“Please, call me Chucho, I come here often enough for us to be in first name basis. And I already know your name, have known it longer than you’ve known there is a ‘Mister Peña’,” he tries to mimic your voice but only makes it sound like a mockery of you. He mumbles “sorry,” under his breath, all forgiven with a smile you give him back.

“What about these?” Lili asks with a quieter voice, the confections in her hand.

“I’ll pay for those,”

“And that’s Javier, you can call him by his first name as well.” His dad says pointedly. In a way he reminds you of your grandpa and how warmly he too always spoke even when to teach you about something more serious, like how to ask nicely, or when you needed help with your homework, and he checked where you had gone wrong.

“Chucho,” you nod your head towards him, “Javier,” you say his name and it tickles against your tongue. The other side of his mouth rises.

“Javier will pay for the candy, and I want a couple of those lemon things over there,” Chucho points in the display. The vanilla tartlets you worked on just a couple of hours earlier.

“Yo los pago, papá,” Javier mutters when you pick up a carton and fold it into a box, placing two tartlets into it. Lili is already ringing him up when you place the box next to her.

“Have you changed the products?” Chucho asks, looking at the display more carefully.

“There are a couple new things, like these blueberry swirl cupcakes and these hazelnut cookies.” You point them out for him and notice Javier checking out the items as well. “Don’t worry, I’m not taking out the favorites,” you nod towards the pistachio cream puffs that have become Chucho’s regular order. He winks at you, like a secret has been exchanged between you two. Lili packs all the goods into a paper bag and hands it over to Javier.

“Thank you,” Chucho tips his hat and drops money into the tip jar.

“Thank you,” Lili yells after checking how much he gave. You greet the next customers while leaving to go back to work, watching the pair as they walk out the door and to Chucho’s truck.

As the day goes on, the bell above the door tinkles less. The noises from people talking quiets down and Lili’s answers and order taking slows until there’s no more questions or orders to be made.

“Only a couple of cupcakes, cookies, and rolls left,” she informs as she joins you to help with dough mixing and making products for the next day. You work like a well-oiled machine that has been in use for a hundred years. You turn the radio a little louder and the both of you sing along to songs that you both know either from your childhoods or ones that have been playing nonstop since they came out in the last year.

“Can you make the puff pastry, I’ll make inventory and clean up the front.” You massage your shoulder, the pain burning under your shoulder blade.

The day is warm, warmer than usual, people wearing shorter sleeved shirts as they pass the shop. The air is humid, yet still dust settles on surfaces. You write in your notebook all the products sold, keeping note of the ones that have leftovers, before packing them in discount packets to get them sold before closing.

The industrial dishwasher rumbles on the other side of the wall as you’re wiping down the display cases. The door opens and the bell jingles, followed by footsteps that stop at the door. You look over your shoulder, the pink shirt on Javier like an alarm for your system.

“Hi,” you straighten your back and finish cleaning the glass.

“I hope I’m not interrupting?” He takes his sunglasses off and hangs them off his shirt again.

“No, no, we’re still open. Did you forget something? Or maybe Mr. Peña wanted something more? I’m sorry we sold out everything you got, tomorrow I’ll be selling more again.” Javier breathes out a silent laugh listening to you ramble nervously, his eyes landing on the empty shelves.

“I’m sure he’d buy more if there was some left, and you can call him Chucho.” You bend your head down when his eyes meet yours. “That’s not why I’m here for.” He walks over to the register with you on the other side. He places his hand on the table, curiously taking in the empty shop.

“What can I get for you then?”

“Have you had any luck finding a date for the wedding?”

“Oh,” his question surprises you. “I haven’t even thought about that. I can guarantee it’s not going to be John. Why?” He nods, watching your lips as they move around the words. He presses his hand into a fist, opening his mouth once, then closing it, contemplating whatever he has on his mind.

“I was wondering…” He stops, his lashes dark against the tops of his cheeks as he has trouble looking at you in the eye. Until he does and forces you to swallow against the sandpaper in your mouth.

“Noah said something… And I remembered what you said about Abigail wanting you to have a date… Being single at a wedding can be…” The broken sentences raise your pulse. “What if we’d go to the wedding together?” Your pulse pauses for a second until it picks up like a storm.

“You make it sound like someone’s going to pair you up with someone more awful unless you do something about it first?” You’re surprised how even your voice sounds even though pins and needles run up and down your skin and your insides are in a turmoil.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it to come off that way.” Javier shakes his head fast, his eyes flashing to you in fear that you’d understand him wrong. “My old man has been eager to know if he needs to know a name before the wedding. It’s a hassle if I won’t deal with that in time.” He almost manages to calm the tempest. You join his chuckling, imagining Chucho pressing his son about finding a plus one for a wedding where his friends are already paired off.

“Look,” you begin, forcing yourself to calm down and think clearly. “It’s a nice offer, but I’m not looking for anything, I don’t have time for it. Abigail setting me up at the party was weird and I’m not concerned about finding a date. I honestly don’t care what people say or think. She just wants me to have someone and not end up alone when she’s busy having brunches and dinners with her married friends.” Javier’s eyes narrow the longer you speak, your last words like icing on a cake for someone who observes as closely as Javier does. You realize how you make yourself sound pathetic and Abigail like an asshole immediately after.

“I’m not looking for anything either, I was thinking it more as an arrangement of sorts.”

“An arrangement?”

“Yeah. I have a lot of groomsmen, ah…” he looks for the words, “whatever wedding things coming up and I know I’ll be put between a rock and a hard place unless I have a date. We could go together, avoid the awkward blind dates and we’d let people know we’re each other’s dates.” What he means with him being between two undesirable options confuses you, but the possibility of Abigail setting you up with someone like John again is high enough for you to get interested in Javier’s suggestion.

“So, you mean we’d fake dating each other?”

He’s unblinking for a moment, until he inhales and pushes the breath out with a “I guess so.”

“Sounds like you’ve read too many romance books.” The lighthearted joke makes him laugh. “Don’t you think it’d be awkward?”

“If we’re okay with it, no, I don’t think so. We could get to know the basics of each other and that would be it. You don’t have to spend your time with me any more than you have to.” He takes a piece of paper from his pocket and places it on the table. “Think about it.” He pushes the paper towards you. You take it, and it’s still warm. He has written his number on it neatly, Javier with a swoopy J on top.

A couple walks in. The bell startles you both. Javier steps back and takes his sunglasses from his shirt.

“Let me know, okay?” He raises his brows in question, and you answer with a nod. The couple beelines for the leftovers, talking in hushed tones, while the bell dings and Javier leaves without a second look back.

“I knew we should’ve come sooner,” the woman hisses and huffs.

“We’re open tomorrow, if you’re looking for something specific,” you try to get back into the moment, but end up following Javier push his sunglasses up his nose and jog across the street to his truck before a car crawls past.

Never would you have thought a piece of paper could be heavy but here you are, aware of its existence in your jeans pocket under your apron. The offer is appealing, you can’t deny that. The thought of having someone steady by your side, people not asking if you have a date, mainly Abigail, and not needing to think about the whole date thing, would be a weight off your shoulders. You could focus on the more pressing matters.

The couple buys the bread rolls, one more tick for you to write into your notebook. You finish preparing everything with Lili and when you turn the lights off a the end of the day, your brain is fried from thinking what to do with Javier’s suggestion.

The hot shower at home is heaven against your shoulder, loosening the tense muscle. It doesn’t wash away Javier’s suggestion though. You dry yourself, and you wouldn’t have to think about a plus one anymore. You warm up leftovers from yesterday, and you wonder how you could relax around Javier who has the ability to get your thoughts and blood roiling. You sit on the couch and get hurt once more thinking about John and if it was all a joke for Abigail to set you up with him.

You dig the pockets of your jeans and find the paper, still folded in half, his handwriting against your fingertips.

“Peña,” you hear Chucho answer. His joyful laughter after you say who’s calling makes you smile as well.

“Don’t say you’re giving us more bread and pastries. I’ll pay for them the next time.” There’s rustling on his end before you have a chance to answer, Javier’s voice muttering something to his dad.

“Hello,” his voice is softer, less deep as his father’s yet still deep enough for you to have it rattle your spine.

“Hi.”

“Sorry, I got a new number a couple of weeks ago and I’m not used to using it yet, gave you the house number by accident.” If you knew him any better, you’d say Javier is nervous.

“That’s okay. I wanted to call and ask if you’re really up for it, fake dating?” he chuckles quietly, almost like he wouldn’t want to make his dad question why you’re calling his son in the evening.

“I’d still call it just an arrangement, but yeah. That’s why I asked you.” You grind your teeth together, nervous about what you’re getting yourself into.

“Okay, let’s do it then.”

28 notes · View notes

imfoive · 11 hours ago

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Crystal Bird - Chapter 11

Crown Prince! Chan x Princess (fem.) Genre: Royal au! Angst, Romance, Historical, hidden identity, slow-burn Warnings: mentions of poison, subtle gender discrimination, death, war, assassination, somewhat proofread WC: 7.8k A/N: happy new year everyone! This story is about to progress aLOT, so buckle up and stay prepared for this ride 😚 Feedback, Reblogs, Likes are greatly appreciated! Happy reading! ── MASTERLIST

Synopsis: The Crown Prince is saved by the Princess of a rival kingdom, and he swears his second life to his savior. A forbidden friendship no one knew of, grows deeper with every secret meeting. As the two are kept apart, memories of their sunset playdates by the serene river, begin blossoming into something beautiful. Cheeks blushed, stomach butterflies fluttered at the thought of each other. Years of yearning and imagining had only made them crave a sweeter reunion. And finally meeting at a Royal banquet, he could only stare at the now grown Princess, taken by her beauty, while she only watches as he gives his heart to the wrong princess.

Missed a chapter? - Prologue / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10

CHAPTER 11 ───────────────────

The people of Elysium had long been taught that the Nightshade Realm was their enemy. A kingdom that would press down on its people. A kingdom that would attack them, the enemy. Murder, ravage, take everything they have.

It was the fear that kept them settled. Their ruler would protect them. Their king would provide them with the best life.

So then why were they feeling pressed down? Why were they feeling unprotected, unprovided of the best life?

The Kings of Elysium had always preached what their first ruler had fought for. Yet as the crown got passed down, those core values seemed to have gotten twisted. Tangled around greed, power. Those values had diminished somewhere along the way.

And now, it seems that with this new disease. The Fading Ill, that had taken the poor, the lower class into its nasty grasp, the people became unsettled.

But the king, either too busy catering to the nobles or ignorant of their suffering, seemed to not notice the anger, the turmoil, that seemed to churn within the people.

On the brink of boiling over.

And suddenly after Ian’s wedding, during the viewing parade, where the citizens of the kingdom were supposed to come together. Joyous, wishing the new princess consort and the crown prince a happy life, there was tension. The anger the people felt, the complaints that went unheard, all shouted together. A facade of a nation harmonious, shattering with their voices. A sight that both shocked and intrigued the foreign princes. Especially the Nightshade Prince, who suddenly understood why Elysium was making foolish plans for war.

The Nightshade healing methods and ideologies.

The rare medical herbs that littered the expanse of the vast kingdom shrouded in darkness and mystery. And it seemed that Elysium wanted it.

Apparently in search of a cure for a disease that seemed to render its people restless.

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Two days prior after the enemy princess had trampled on his hopes. On his desires for the two of them to accept the painful pull they had felt for each other, the disheartened Nightshade Crown Prince had trudged back defeated into his chambers at Ruby Hall.

It took one glimpse of his face, that Han instantly understood. This man had lost. Holding back his anger, his frustrations simmering beneath his cold facade. The kind of expression Han had seen plenty of times up in the White Mountains.

The Second Princess seemed to be afraid. Clear from the distress Chris caught in her glances, the ones she tried to mask, with her hurtful words, and expressions laced with disgust. A part of him understood, well, tried to understand. Unlike him, the heir to his father’s crown, the future King of Nightshade, Princess Y/N had always lived with herself guarded. One wrong move, one wrong action of hers, could have left her at the lowest rungs within the palace. Lower than she already was.

He wanted to understand. But he could only recall the image of her calling him a predator. Something filthy that wasn’t worthy of touching her, let alone loving her. He wanted to understand, but a bitterness tugged at his heart. The anger that simmered within, the frustrations that churned below.

The Nightshade Prince had always been one to hold grudges.

He would give her exactly what she wanted.

No more lingering glances, no more pained gazes.

He would no longer be tugged by her pull, the flame that seemed to have him drawn. The flame that threatened to consume him in its fiery blaze.

Y/N was well aware, painfully aware that Chris had decided to hate her. Determined to hate her. As he said so himself, relenting to her wishes, barely sparing her a glance. Yet she couldn’t even wonder why, couldn’t even allow it all to prick her heart because it was all her fault. The coldness in his demeanor, the stoic, guarded stance that the Warrior Prince had kept up with every other person he encountered within the palace, had returned.

Even the way he engaged with Sienna was reserved. A smile no longer curling at the corner of his lips, his gaze no longer gentle.

The smiles and gazes had been reserved for his childhood friend. One who no longer existed.

The wedding hall had been shining, glimmering, with all sorts of crystals and gems. Flowers, and colors that made you stare with fascination. The vibrant red and gold carpet in the center of the hall that led to the altar had stood out amidst the pure white of everything else around the grand room, captivating the gathered audience.

Crown Prince Ian wore his finest attire, his hair styled neatly, a slight flush in his cheeks either from the emotions that coursed through him, perhaps shy, or from the alcohol he had downed before the ceremony. Y/N didn’t really care, her eyes raking over to the audience. The nobles, the guests, the foreign delegates that sat across on the other side of the room.

Y/N’s gaze met Hyunjin’s, the dark-haired prince who grinned at her with pleasant smiles. She had easily returned it, but as her eyes continued to wander, in search of the face of the man she supposedly hated. The man that she wanted to hate but couldn’t get herself to, her eyes broke away at the sound of the grand doors opening with an echoing creak.

The future princess consort walked in gracefully. The pure white of her dress, the embroidered flowers seemed to have captivated the crowd, who almost gasped at how beautiful she looked, how poised and perfect she seemed to be.

How lucky she was to wed into the royal family. The future Queen of Elysium.

Yet, Y/N’s gaze lingered on her expression. On her downcast eyes that seemed to stay settled on her bouquet. The slight smile that didn’t seem as bright as ones she had seen the Duke’s daughter wear whenever she sat with Sienna at tea.

The First Princess’ words from that day at the garden surged back from her memories. The ones about princesses marrying for better alliances. For the greater good of their nation. She guessed it was the same for noble children. Especially the daughters of the higher ranked nobles. Such as the Duke's eldest daughter.

And although the lower princess had never been close to Prince Ian’s fiancee, a pang of hurt had crossed her heart for her. Aware that this young lady didn’t love Ian. That she had no choice to love at all.

Y/N’s eyes settled across the hall. At Chris who’s gaze seemed to meet hers. It was a fleeting moment. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, gleaming with similar emotions,

Perhaps he imagined his own wedding. Marrying for the greater good of his nation.

The future Queen of Nightshade should be perfect, should be a figure looked up to. Someone who matched well with him. Someone who could aid him with her familial ties, her even sharper intellect.

Someone who wasn’t a lowly, illegitimate princess of an enemy nation.

Prince Christopher’s jaw had tightened, his expression unchanged as he tore his gaze away. Turning back to face the bride and groom who stood at the altar. The King of Elysium between the two, officiating.

The Second Princess’ intuition seemed to be correct, as watching these two marry all he could think about was marrying Y/N. Think about taking her away from here. From the terrible circumstances, from the conflictions that seemed to tie her back, the fears that she shouldn’t have to bear.

He imagined her at the altar.

With another.

Someone who was decided to be her husband by the crown, one she had no choice but to marry.

He tasted bitter. His fist balling at his lap. His eyes met Hyunjin who briefly glanced back at him.

And all Chris tasted was bitter. He'd probably kill that man if he were called to witness such a scene. Take her away even if by force. Like the true beast she claimed he was.

The thought of it all made him shudder.

The Warrior Prince inhaled, in an attempt to soothe the anger that threatened to surface on his expression. Soothe the manic thoughts that fogged his mind. Pressing his eyes shut for a moment, Chris’ fingers reach for the crystal bird.

Except he didn’t grasp it. His hand faltering, hovering over the fabric of his blazer.

He suddenly remembered Sienna. The oblivious First Princess who had no recollection of him, their friendship or this bird.

His savior, but not his princess.

His eyes flitted over to Y/N. The woman that his heart was drawn to. No matter how much she pushed him away.

A princess, but not his.

The wedding ceremony had ended rather quickly. With so many other ceremonies that followed, according to Elysium traditions, it seemed that the tying-of-the-knot wasn’t the main spectacle to witness. Or at least that was what the foreign delegates had grasped.

After Ian and the Duke’s daughter were wed, yet another royal dinner seemed to follow, the evening sky lighting up with fireworks for the whole nation to stare up at and celebrate with. There had been dancers who performed, musicians who serenaded the couple. Then as the night drew on, everyone else joined the ballroom floor.

The Duke was the happiest man present it seemed, being tied to the royal family through marriage now, to the future king and queen seemed to be the greatest thing that had happened to him. He had downed yet another glass of wine, his words slurring as the night wore on. Although everyone seemingly loosened up well into the celebrations, forgetting all the political talk, and easing into every bit of it.

Except Prince Christopher, who seemed to be taking in the revelry in an entirely different light.

He had instructed Han to scope out Ruby Hall and the Warrior quarters while everyone celebrated. Although the younger guard was reluctant to do so, urging for Minho to be tasked with that instead. Ultimately, with a promise that his prince would not ingest anything suspicious, Han had seceded. Although it was mostly because Minho wasn’t even on palace grounds to overtake his tasks.

The Warrior Prince had his eyes peeled the entire day. From the ceremony this morning, to the customs that followed, and now at this royal dinner, Chris had enough conflictions that darted through his mind, scrutinizing each and every passing thought for something that could have meant more.

Take Lord Miller, the older man who had approached the table of the foreign princes sometime into the evening, his eyes settling over Prince Christopher’s untouched drink, his plate that lay bare and pristine, clearly uneaten from. The old man had chuckled, the alcohol in his system making him sound a little freer than usual, though his whole demeanor seemed loose, as if it was his daughter that had gotten married into the royal family. He had even dared to pat at Prince Christopher’s shoulder, an action that would have had Han draw his sword if he were here. But Chris only stared at his fingers, his cold gaze piercing that drunken haze that fogged Lord Miller, enough for him to clear his throat and retreat his hand rather quickly.

“Does the food not suit you, Prince Christoper.” He cleared his throat instead, hoping he hadn’t truly offended the stoic Nightshade heir.

Chris’ eyes flicked over to his plate, to his untouched chalice, before they returned to settle on the man that appeared to have been tipsy of sorts.

The Warrior Prince had been cautious to not drink and eat all evening just in case. Especially knowing that Lord Miller had been in and out of the Elysium King’s study the past late nights.

As his departure neared he had been even more guarded. The rest of his delegation ensured to do the same, he wondered when this man had noticed, when he was the one that had been observing all evening.

“You have a sharp eye, Lord Miller.” Chris curled his lips into a subtle smile instead, glancing over at his untouched cutlery for a speck of a second.

“I filled myself up with bread unfortunately.” He lied with a shake of his head, uncaring if the excuse came out unbelievable.

And even if he didn’t take his word for it, Lord Miller didn’t question the Nightshade Prince’s words.

“You journey back tomorrow don’t you?” Lord Miller had changed the subject.

Chris nodded, glancing toward the center table where the new bride and groom sat.

“Yes, after the viewing parade. It has been an eventful trip these past weeks. I’ve learned a lot.” Chris’ faux smile continued to linger on his unreadable expression.

The tension between the two men was palpable, yet no one around them seemed to say anything even if they had noticed.

There was a slight commotion at the center table that broke their pointed gazes away from one another.

“—Ah, it seems Duke Wenning has had much too much to drink. That man must be on cloud nine today.” Lord Miller had chuckled, finally bidding Chris farewell.

The older man had made his quick exit, the Nightshade Prince watched as he walked toward Duke Wenning, the Princess Consort’s father, who seemed to have fallen out of his chair from his drunken stupor.

Chris wanted to leave this hall. He wanted to find Han, Minho, and question if they had uncovered anything else, secret meetings, devious plans, things that would most likely occur amidst the celebration. Minho should have scavenged the Grand Forest for any messages from his midnight warriors, perhaps he was back on palace grounds. Maybe he could slip away. Come up with some other lame excuse about feeling spent.

But he couldn't, it seemed. Not when his eyes kept flitting across the hall. Over to Y/N, the quiet Princess who had arranged much of tonight's dinner, now blending into its shadows. Keeping him rooted here with her magnetic pull. The one he swore he would forget all about.

His legs refused to move, heart insisting he sit right here where at the correct angle he would see her behind the obstruction of the column between them.

He had convinced himself, attempted to convince himself, to control his wandering eyes. To remain cold and unbothered. Refusing to meet her gaze. Give her exactly what she wanted from him.

Which was nothing.

Yet like the lunatic he was, he watched when she wasn’t. Stealing glances all throughout the day, taking in his fill of her before he had to leave. If he was even able to leave safely at all.

He could sense Lady Katherine’s gaze on him, his eyes darting away from her daughter before they settled on the older woman who he had only exchanged greetings with during his entire stay. Maybe her motherly intuitons had sparked, seeing as she glanced between her daughter and the Warrior Prince who had coincidentally been stealing glances of her every time she caught him.

But her expression seemed rather composed.

He had heard much about the commotions Lady Katherine was known for. Seen what she was capable of in the healing bruises that had been discovered on Y/N that night of the first banquet.

Lady Katherine wasn’t much of an observer. Unlike her daughter who’s ears perked up at things that deserved not a second listen giving her status, her mother was one who was cautious. Someone who found suspicion in the tiniest bit of change. Which was slightly humorous since her daughter’s importance had seemingly changed over night all those months ago. A grand change that she was willing to overlook. Perhaps she had truly been desperate. Restless. For that golden life she had been promised, chasing ever since she was a young maiden.

Lady Katherine might not have been the greatest mother there was. Her morals were anything but pure, another stark difference between her daughter and her.

But Katherine knew that look that seemed to gimmer in the Nightshade heir’s eyes.

It seemed that Prince Christopher wore his heart on his sleeve.

Rather surprising for someone so brusque and frigid.

She should have been furious. Should have reacted in the typical fashion that she would usually, perhaps grip at her daughter’s wrist and lead her out the hall. Discipline her for seducing such a beastly enemy prince.

But then she remembered what she had overheard last night.

Or rather, what was said in her presence. Because The King didn’t deem her worthy, important enough, uncaring of whatever he spoke in front of her.

She was not threatening. Simply his foolish mistress who warmed his bed.

Lord Miller had visited the King’s private study last night, outside the ruler’s bedchamber where Katherine was, fiddling with her hair. Their conversation was not hushed, rather casual for whatever was so dire for his advisor to seek him out this late into the night.

“The poisons are ready.” Lord Miller’s words had carried through, making Katherine blink at the strands of hair in her grasp, unsure if she heard correctly.

She wondered which fool had angered the king and his court enough to get poisoned.

“What about the Eastern Sea Prince, has he agreed to join us?” The King’s question had broken his mistress away from her thoughts.

“He had declined. Politely so.” Lord Miller had chuckled, as if it was the wrong decision, laughing at Prince Hyunjin seemingly.

The King fell silent for a moment, his hand rubbing at his jaw as he pondered.

“I thought he would be tempted by my offer. Perhaps it’s because he isn’t in line for succession, his values are lacking.” The Elysium ruler’s eyes narrowed into a frown, as if he had recalled something.

“Much like Prince Ian. Except that fool is in line for succession.” He almost grunted, his fingers gripping around his glass of liquor, downing it.

He grew angered by the day. Especially after the whole arrow incident with the second princess. Ian clearly hadn’t learned from the incident last year. The one where he had killed a servant playing these childish games of his. He had been sent away while the king had dealt with it.

“He’ll beg for your mercy soon, your majesty. We’re almost there, once we get rid of the Nightshade Prince, everything will fall into place.”

“I hope you're right. That fool can’t wait to get rid of the Nightshade Prince…But I suppose, that’s better for us, we can easily pin it on him.” The laughter that echoed was sinister almost, making Katherine flinch.

Her eyes shot to the door, just outside which the two men sat. Their devious schemes bare for her to hear.

“My king, about my daughter…” Lord Miller spoke up after the laughter had subsided, clearly hesitant.

The Elysium Ruler waved his hand in the air, as if trying to comfort him.

“Yes, don’t worry. She will be the new consort.”

A response that made Lord Miller grin widely, almost giddily reaching out to refill the King’s empty glass.

Katherine had gasped sharply to herself, staring at the intricate patterns on the grand door. Confused, shocked. She was unsure what kind of plans these men had drawn, but clearly it was a grand secret that had been in the making for the past year.

Suddenly the drawn out celebrations made sense. The guise of keeping the foreign enemy on their land falling into place as she connected the dots. She didn’t know much about Nightshade or how they will fare without their crown prince, but it seemed Elysium was prepared for the aftermath of it all.

Handing over Ian for assassinating the Nightshade heir.

The Queen will be furious once she learns of this.

A sudden thought darted through Katherine’s mind, her eyes flicking back to the door with more unease.

Then what of her daughter?

The princess who was on the forefront of preparing all the celebrations. The one responsible for overseeing the foreign envoys. What was her role in all this?

The mother stared, her heart beating fast.

Now however, amidst the music and the dancing, the loud cheers and laughter of the nobles that celebrated the newly weds, another thought flashed through the mother’s mind.

Perhaps he could protect her.

This Warrior Prince. This beastly prince that seemed to exude a shuddering aura, his sharp gaze piercing into hers before she looked away.

Yet the eyes he looked at her daughter with were filled with longing.

A look she had once been very familiar with.

But would that longing gaze be enough to protect her daughter?

Lady Katherine turned to her maid, leaning in to whisper a command.

“Procure me a dagger.”

Her personal maid blinked at her, confusion evident in her slightly shocked gaze.

“Be discreet.” The mistress muttered, turning away.

The maid hesitated for a moment more before nodding, slowly making her way out of the hall.

The sound of Duke Wenning trashing after his fall had stolen back the King’s Mistress’ attention, her eyes following along as the Princess Consort’s father was slowly led out in the midst of the celebration to settle. He had truly gotten carried away in his elation.

That poor bastard.

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The night was supposed to be a joyous one. Celebrating the marriage of the crown prince, the first of the royal children to wed. The occasion had called for endless revelry. Yet the tensions simmering beneath, threatened to surface.

The Queen of Elysium had retired earlier than usual, her smile graceful, but the anger within her flickered in her eyes, betrayed by a twitch of her brow. She scanned the room, her gaze finally landing on the King. At the ruler who had just backstabbed her.

Or rather.

The man who had betrayed her long ago, and she had only just discovered.

She shouldn’t have been surprised, the fickle King, that husband of hers, was never one that she thought of as loyal. She had known that long before their marriage. But she had believed, foolishly, that he at least respected her position as Queen of this kingdom.

But perhaps that too was a naive hope. Especially when the man had invited his mistress onto the palace grounds. A figure whose presence had undermined her authority for the past twenty-odd years.

She wasn’t just angry. She was furious. She stormed into her parlor, the doors rattling violently against the walls as she flung them open. Her maids, trailing behind her, flinched at her force.

Then came the vase.

The delicate vessel shattered into a thousand pieces as she hurled it at the wall, a scream of rage escaping her lips. Her eyes burned with frustration, her fury unleashing.

She had just uncovered the hidden web of deceit her King had spun right under her nose.

While she was busy keeping an eye on the pawns that could be used in their schemes, the King had sacrificed his Queen.

Sacrificed his crown prince.

Lord Wenning had been intoxicated, escorted to a quieter lounge to regain his composure. Yet, as he sat alone, still giddy with the thought that he could soon have the future king in his pocket, if his daughter could hold him firmly enough, the doors creaked open. Lord Miller stepped inside.

Equally giddy, equally intoxicated by this point of the night perhaps. Yet, elated for different reasons.

The secrets spilled easily. Though vaguely. Lord Miller’s grin was menacing as he leaned in, whispered words that drew out this reaction from the princess consort’s father. Knowing the Duke would likely forget much of this conversation by morning. Yet, the Duke stared back, stunned, absorbing each word.

The secrets had been heard easily.

With the walls of the palace having ears of their own, and the Queen of Elysium having her spies lingering in most parts of the court, the schemes swiftly reach her. And yet, amidst the festivities of her son’s wedding, all she could do was smile. The mask of benevolence and grace that she had perfected over the years, donned on her face.

And now here she was, in the solitude of her parlor. Breaking things. Shattering objects as if doing so could rid her of the bitter truth she couldn’t fully grasp. She had been swindled. Betrayed by the man to who she had whispered the very idea to in the first place.

She had suggested it. The plan to use the growing sickness to stir unrest among the people of the kingdom. Riling them up enough to justify their attack to a nation that had the cure.

With the Nightshade Prince out of the picture, the enemy kingdom would be thrown into chaos, leaving an opening for Elysium's army to strike.

It was a well sought out scheme. Slightly foolish, she was aware. Knowing well about the history of Nightshade known for their defensive tactics. And if all went awry, the one to take the blame would always be the ruler of the nation.

Nightshade would want the Elysium King’s head on a stake.

It seemed the Queen wasn’t loyal herself either. Perhaps what truly upset her was that the King had struck first, making her taste bitter at the mere thought of being back-stabbed.

The Queen of Elysium sank into a chair, her breath steadying as she fought to regain control over the storm of emotions that had clouded her mind. Her thoughts raced, sifting through the endless, fragmented pieces of information she had kept to herself. Bits of gossip, fleeting conversations, reports form her spies, whispers in the dark. She picked through them, trying to discern which might aid her in creating a new, more cunning scheme.

She must do something, anything, before her son takes the fall. That useless son of hers.

Prince Ian, the crown prince she had once hoped would be her puppet. A king in name, but truly a figurehead, with the Queen Dowager advising from behind the scenes.

Her gaze hardened, and her mind sharpened as a recollection flickered in her memory. Something that had been relayed to her just the night prior.

From a certain guard from the West Wing Palace that had come to her parlor, reporting on the Second Prince’s suspicious activities.

Of her purchasing poison.

The Queen of Elysium was the most powerful woman of the Kingdom.

She was beautiful, she was gracious. She was forgiving.

She was an actress. She was clever. Conniving.

The Elysium Queen was the most powerful woman yet found herself falling behind a mistress.

It’s true that royal marriages rarely involve love, though the young maiden who wed the then-crown prince of Elysium never sought it in the first place. She believed that once married, she could hold her husband’s reins, keep him in check.

But, of course, that didn’t work.

After she gave birth to a son, she became expendable. Her husband, now king, slowly turned away, no longer visiting her unless needed. Instead, he was consumed by a certain young lady.

Supposedly beautiful, supposedly radiating. The kind of woman men fawn over, their eyes captured at her every glimpse.

Like the eyes of the King, who was just a man after all.

It grated on the young queen's nerves.

Watching her husband who she didn’t have any real interest in, prepare carriages laden with gifts for some humble noble girl.

And once the queen had gotten a good look at Lady Katherine, she understood.

That the two were made of the same cloth. The two were after power, attaching themselves to the most powerful man of the nation.

Yet the Queen was humored. Because how dare a pretty girl eye her place. How dare a pretty poor girl think she could challenge the queen of the nation, a well-brought up lady of high-society, picked by the former king himself.

The Queen despised the competition, the thorns in her side. But there was little she could do when word spread that the King had fathered an illegitimate child.

The lower nobles caused a ruckus and the Crown had no choice but to accept her as his mistress.

Fortunately, the child was a girl.

When the Queen saw the look of panic in Katherine’s eyes upon hearing the news, she found herself amused. The mistress’s desperate hope to give birth to a prince who could rival her son’s place vanished in an instant.

Instead, Katherine began to fear the Queen.

The Queen didn’t hold any particular animosity toward the bastard child. She was pretty, lively, much like her mother. And when standing next to her own daughter, the girl seemed rather dull.

But there was one thing about the Second Princess that intrigued the Queen, something she didn’t realize until it was too late.

The child was an actress.

That girl was clever, conniving.

And when the Queen glimpsed her younger self in Y/N, she knew she would have to keep a close watch on that illegitimate princess.

It was a good thing she did so too, seeing as she now had a perfect solution to this mess that became a thorn at her side.

“Bring the Mistress to me.” She ordered

────────────────────────

Princess Y/N warily glanced between her maid and her knight, the suddenly stoic guard who was leading her, rather than protecting her from behind as he always did.

But she could only guess that he had finally grown tired of pretending to guard her, especially now, in the Queen’s palace. The silent corridors felt eerily empty to the Second Princess and her young chambermaid. With the palace bustling with celebrations, there wasn’t a soul in sight. And even if attendants lingered nearby, they stayed out of sight.

Queen Mother had summoned her, a call that shouldn’t have been shocking, seeing as Princess Y/N had been in and out of this palace over the course of preparations. Yet fear gnawed at her, a fear she forced down, hoping no one would notice it. Not Anna, the young girl who was already terrified on her own. Not her knight, who looked at her with much more disdain than he had last.

Not the Queen Mother who had eyes everywhere, making Y/N worry if she had discovered the Nightshade Prince sneaking around the palace, slipping into her bedchamber.

But, what she was greeted with was the sight of a different Nightshade.

The tube of the shriveled plant. The poison she regretted ever learning about. The same poison she had foolishly smuggled into the court.

Her eyes widened instantly, her gaze darting to the Queen, who stood almost nonchalant by the roaring fireplace, its flames casting vibrant hues across her face.

Princess Y/N’s knight bowed as he completed his task, turning to exit. The heavy doors thudded shut behind him.

The silence that stretched between the three remaining women in the parlor was suffocating. Anna, her head lowered, trembled. The sight of which pained her princess.

“I thought you to be much sharper than this, Princess Y/N.” The Queen’s voice cut through the heavy silence.

Finally turning, she acknowledged the bowed stances of the lower-princess and her maid, waving her hand to get them to rise.

Y/N’s eyes instantly darted back to the poison at the center table. The one you could grind, mix or ingest as it is.

The woman of highest authority picked up the tube, inspecting the small thing that was apparently quite deadly.

“I know you had no ill intent. You’re much too good-natured for that. It seems your curiosity has landed you in some trouble yet again.” She shook her head, feigned disappointment crossing her face.

She glanced over at Anna, the young maid who’s loyalty seemed harder to break than she had presumed. Such a young thing, yet had more morality than some of those older, experienced servants that bowed down to bribes.

Like that knight that stood outside. Loyalty not a concept he seemed to grasp.

“Do you know its uses?” The Queen’s gaze returned to the poison, her fingers tapping the glass tube lightly.

Y/N’s heart hammered in her chest, her fingers trembling slightly. But she was not worried for herself. No, it was Anna she feared for. The young maid had no idea about the Nightshade poison Y/N had in her possession.

“It’s used to kill.” Y/N replied, her voice steadier than she felt, hoping her tone would mask the nervousness beneath.

The obvious answer made the Queen let out a soft, amused laugh, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and something else.

“Yes, as most poisons are. But I imagined you might be aware of its medicinal uses as well.”

Y/N inhaled sharply, wondering exactly how much the most powerful woman of the kingdom knew. How much she pretended to not know. How much she ignored it until it was useful to her.

The Queen seemed to sense the turmoil in Y/N’s thoughts, as if reading her like an open book. She flashed a knowing smile, as though seeing her younger self reflected in the princess. It was an unfortunate thing, that she was the daughter of a mistress.

“The Nightshade realm knows its uses. From the leaves to the seeds. Every part of it is used for medicine rather than poison. Or so I read about a long time ago.” She couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

“Ironic for a Kingdom named after such a thing.”

Y/N was at a loss for words. Unsure of what to say next. Whether her words could be used against her, although it truly was her fault that she was in such a situation. No one but hers.

The curious Second Elysium Princess knows how to sneak away. Known to act impulsively before considering any consequences until she stood in the middle of the aftermath. Her eyes glanced over to the terrified young maid.

The Second Elysium Princess, always putting others in danger.

“Forgive me, your Majesty. There was no ill intention behind my possession of this vial. I was simply curious. It—” She gripped at her dress, inhaling as she made a decision. “It was smuggled in by me, and me alone. No one else besides me knew about it.”

Princess Y/N could feel Anna’s shocked gaze boring into her, the chambermaid who had truly known nothing about it indeed, yet couldn’t understand why her princess would confess such a thing.

Would protect a lowly maid like herself.

The Queen blinked at Y/N’s words, her expression momentarily unreadable before she burst into hearty laughter, a sound that echoed off the walls of the silent parlor.

“Oh, Princess Y/N.” Queen Mother began, her laughter subsiding into a soft chuckle.

“This is one thing I dislike about you. Never considering the fact that you have no power to protect anyone, yet always jumping forward to do so.” Queen Mother’s laughter settled.

“Although perhaps it is one thing about you that makes you nothing like that mother of yours.”

The Queen’s voice grew quieter, more contemplative, as her amusement slowly faded. A brief flicker of silence settled between them, thickening the tension in the room. Then, she spoke, her words chilling.

“I’m going to pin this poison on your mother.”

Y/N’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up at the Queen, who met her gaze with an unreadable gleam in her eyes. Tears welled in Y/N’s eyes, and her lips trembled at the gravity of the proclamation. In an instant, Katherine’s daughter crumpled to her knees, her head bowing low in desperate submission.

“Y-your Majesty, please!” She pleaded, her voice shaking.

“I’m the one who deserves the punishment. My mother—she knew nothing about it.” The words spilled from her lips, frantic, desperate.

Beside her, Anna also sank to her knees, her head lowering to the ground, following Lady Katherine’s daughter.

The daughter who had grown distant from her overbearing mother. The illegitimate child who had always accepted her mother’s fury, the scornful words, the strikes that left bruises. And yet, despite it all, the princess still loved her mother dearly.

The most powerful woman in the kingdom stared down at the scene. A slight twitch in her brow gave way to her irritation. Or rather her amusement, seeing as though both mother-daughter seemed to be more alike than she had thought.

“The Mistress had begged for something similar. Earlier when I presented this shrub to her.”

Once again, Y/N’s stunned gaze shot up to meet the Queen’s slight scowl, the older woman crossing her arms over her chest.

“She agreed to take the blame. And that is quite final. Unless you intend on poisoning someone instead.”

Y/N was lost, her tears sliding down her cheeks as she attempted to wrap her head around whatever she had heard. Whatever had transpired between her mother and the queen. Before she had arrived.

Perhaps it had all been her fault. Her mother was going to kill someone because of her. For her.

Suddenly she gasped sharply, her mind spinning. Her eyes darted back to the Queen, a desperate question escaping her trembling lips.

“W-will she poison the Nightshade p-prince?” Her words had left shakily, her fear evident in her tear-stricken expression.

The sight of which made the Queen raise a curious brow.

“Oh my…” The amusement was evident in her tone, fingers covering her lips as she caught the glint in the princess’ eyes, something that echoed an affection she hadn't expected at all.

“It seems you are your mother’s daughter after all.” The Queen mused, a smile tugging at her lips she laughed softly, shaking her head in disbelief.

“And here I thought he was enthralled by Sienna.” She muttered to herself, her gaze far off as if lost in thought.

But the amusement faded as quick as it came. With a sharp tone, she called for the princess’ guard, standing outside the door.

The doors cracked open, but Y/N didn’t have an answer to the question that still hung in the air, her fear gripping her chest tightly.

“Do you believe Elysium has a sliver of a chance against Nightshade?”

The Queen Mother’s words had made the guard, the maid and the lowly princess stiffen, a confession to attacking the enemy nation made so casually.

Yet she only awaited. Waiting for the ever-curious, ever-knowledgeable second princess to voice her opinion.

Y/N inhaled. A bitterness coursing through her, an anger simmering beneath her teary eyes. Her voice was steady, despite the tremor in her chest.

“Elysium will fall.”

Words that settled like a heavy stone. Words that had her guard shouted out in anger, as if she had cursed them all with her prediction.

“How damning!” Yet even before he could truly get riled up, the Queen settled him.

Her expression was calm, as if it were an answer she expected. An answer she knew herself. A likely outcome for a greedy kingdom. For a King, who she wanted nothing but to fall.

“Enough. I appreciate your honest answer.” Her final words to Y/N were curt, facing her guard, and a few more knights who seemed to be standing out in the hall now.

“Confine the second princess to her chambers.” The Queen glanced at a terrified Anna.

“Send her maid away.”

────────────────────────

The Nightshade Prince wasn’t sure how he ended up walking beside Prince Hyunjin, the Sylvancrest Prince’s taller figure falling into his steps, as they made their way through the hall. Hyunjin’s ever-present grin was on display, the same warm smile that Chris had grown used to seeing on his face.

Except for the day of their chess game, which Hyunjin pretended to forget all about.

“Are you excited to return back home?” Hyunjin’s question broke him away from his thoughts.

Chris inhaled, slipping his hands into his pockets as he gave a curt reply. “Yes.”

But the words didn’t quite match the unease in his eyes. Unable to quite convince himself, much less Hyunjin.

“Are you returning as well or do you plan to stay a few days. Perhaps… secure that Queen you had been rambling about.” The Warrior Prince’s jaw had tightened, a slight furrow in his brow.

A sight that amused Hyunjin plenty, making the Sylvancret Prince widen his smile even moreso.

“I don’t think I ever mentioned securing anyone, forget a Queen.” He chuckled, glancing around the chatter and clamor of the hall.

“She has already settled on a King.” His tone had softened, muttered between them.

Words dripping with a knowing edge, his expression nothing but warm.

A confession, a sight that should have settled his inner jealousy. Should have made Chris fall into wonder. Should have made him curious, questioning why this pretty prince knew so much. Yet he could only feel bitter.

“It is you, Prince Christopher. The King her heart has settled on.” Hyunjin’s voice dropped to a murmur, the shift in tone clearly signaling his slight confusion.

It was clear that he expected something more from the Warrior Prince in response, perhaps a shift in his demeanor, but Chris’ reaction was nothing like what Hyunjin had anticipated.

Prince Christopher’s gaze flickered downward, the weight of the words sinking into him. He glanced back up, meeting Hyunjin’s eyes, whose gaze flickered with worry maybe?

Instead he curled his lips into a soft, bittersweet smile.

“I know.”

His eyes swept across the hall, searching for the second princess, but she was no longer in the spot where he had last seen her. Chris' heart clenched at the empty space, a hollow ache settling within him that he couldn't hide. The kind of pain Prince Hyunjin easily noticed.

But it seemed that more than just the princess was missing tonight. Something felt amiss, like in the deep shadows of the Grand Forest.

Minho's eyes swept across the unfamiliar expanse of greenery, his mind suddenly uneasy. A sense of urgency gripped him as he scanned for signs of the hoard of guards. The brigade of Elysium knights that had been assembled in secret at the border. Elysium's army, raised in secrecy, was nowhere to be found. In their place, only the usual knights remained, stationed at the wall that divided the two kingdoms.

It was as if the sighting of the large number of armored knights had been nothing but a hallucination. Something Prince Felix had imagined, something the Midnight Leader had conjured up.

The Midnight Leader who now stood amidst the dark foliage of the Grand Forest at a loss for words. He had been tasked to find out if Nightshade had gotten his message that he had left a few days prior, in search for any response that could bridge the King’s court and the special envoy here on enemy territory. Yet, what he didn’t expect was to easily slither around in the shadows. Where once he was wary, about the large number of Elysium guards scattered around the dark greenery of the forest, climbing the tall, towering trees, concealing at every rustle and snap, now he was greeted by an unsettling silence.

An eerie stillness that made him feel uneasy.

It seemed that his midnight team had gotten his message, the carving now clawed out of the bark. His senses seemed to be heightened, head darting around for clues. For footprints, subtle signs of where such a large force of knights could have diverged.

Perhaps they were still in the forest. With the Nightshade warriors unfamiliar with enemy territory, unfamiliar with the dense expanse of the Grand Forest on the Elysium side, the knights could have easily covered their tracks.

It seemed his Prince had been right about the enemy nation’s “hidden weapon” indeed. Perhaps an ambush was exactly what they planned. A thought that made the Midnight Warrior clench his jaw in anger.

Minho could hear the loud roar of the river in the distance. A river that didn’t run through his kingdom, a sound that didn’t belong to Nightshade. Yet he suddenly recalled a certain story he had heard about this river. His prince’s bittersweet memories spilled out amongst the warriors he trained with back in the White Mountains.

About a certain princess who had become his friend. One he couldn’t wait to meet.

An enemy princess. Minho had long figured that much out.

Princess Y/N, who he had followed that night amidst the pouring rain. Her staggering figure as she gripped at her shoulder, the faint sobs escaping her lips in the dark corridors of the West Wing Palace, all seem to come back to him at this moment of ponder.

It should have been a hassle. Rendering some personal knight unconscious, just to allow the enemy princess to slip back into her chambers without being seen. It should have been a task he could have stepped away from, but the pain in his prince’s expression, illuminated by the bolts of lightning that night, had made him act.

And surely, he would do it again. A thought he didn’t particularly hate.

King Bhang had once said that every king has his own loyal people. And it was in this instance that the future king’s power shone. With the loyalty of his midnight warrior, who should have been loyal to Nightshade and not just his master, Prince Christopher was effortlessly gathering those who would stand by him. Already beginning to forge his own people, his own authority.

But as Minho wandered through the dark forest he seemed to worry about something more pressing.

The missing army that would surely ambush them. A foolish move that seemed easy enough to figure out.

But he couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it.

This joyous night of the Crown Prince and Princess Consort’s wedding celebrations, the last night the foreign princes were to be in the Kingdom of Elysium, it seemed to be such a bittersweet moment. For new friends like Prince Hyunjin and Princess Y/N, who promised to keep in touch through letters. For another pair of friends who had a promise once upon a time.

Prince Christopher and the ghost of his childhood friend, lost friends with one sided memories. A farewell, never to be said, yet never to be undone.

Bittersweet goodbyes seemed to echo beneath all the revelry.

For yearning lovers. The Second Princess of Elysium, the less-than royal princess, who cried for her mother. Who cried for the enemy prince she had swore would return safely, locked in her chambers.

And for the yearning lover on the other side, the Nightshade Prince, the future ruler, who’s eyes searched around for the glimpse of the enemy princess that refused to admit her feelings.

Glancing over his shoulder, the Nightshade heir felt the burning gaze of the sly Elysium King on him, watching him closely.

What a joyous night it seemed to be, indeed.

A night ending with the loud boom of fireworks.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ to be continued.

── ask to be tagged! - @stayceebs97, @palindrome969, @tsunderelino, @solandiszale, @fixation-dump, @ellelabelle, @gaslasyttune, @qwonyoung23, @minh0scat, @candyquokka, @sellomaybe, @kat-unzel, @aeri-skzver, @hefflez8 , @lenfilms, @staytinyluv, @ovulatingrn, @gujter, @moledroangel, @spectraly, @lemonn015, @vxllxnsworld, @yoongiismylove2018, @luminouskalopsia, @farhas-stuff, @staysweird, @0325ale, @yareyareoujosama, @143hyunes, @jellybeanxscoups, @xgridx, @channieismylove, @impoeticbeauty, @clamabuntetnonprinceps, @dusk-mp3 (please ask to be tagged if you’re genuinely interested!)

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literallymercy · 3 days ago

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REQUEST FROM : @alexihollis - My interpretation of Mercy's Past and Swan finding out about it!!

Mercy's Past

Tears fell from Mercy's eyes as the shouting next door continued. The banging and screams took her mind back to the fighting from when she was younger, when people would argue in the orphanage while she held the younger childrens shaking bodies. Her knees drew to her chest and her head dropped into them while her hands covered her ears in attempt to block out the noise.

Her head shot up when she heard the door creak open. Through her blurry vision she spotted Swan holding a basket.

"Hey love, Cleon wanted me to bring through this clea- shit, are you alright?" She asked, her voice laced with concern as the basket was discarded to the side, the slight thud making Mercy jump as she let out a sob. Her voice shook as she repeated muffled apologies and tears were streaming down her face. Swan pulled her into her embrace and began humming softly to her to calm her down.

The shouts and bangs eventually quietened down, and Mercy's eyes grew dry as she relaxed, leaning into Swan as she slowly removed her shaking hands from her ears.

"Do you want to talk about what just happened, or should we discuss the latest of Cowgirl's drama at work?" Swan asked, giving her the choice.

The younger Warrior took a breath, before turning her head to meet Swan's gaze.

"Can I trust you?"

Swan's heart shattered hearing her girlfriend's voice so broken and scared. "Of course, I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to, we don't even have to bring it up again, I just want to help and understand you more" She replied, her voice soft, nearing a whisper.

Mercy nodded and let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing as she began, "In the orphanage, there were a load of younger kids, and hardly any older kids. I was one of those few older ones." She began to pick at the skin on her fingers, which Swan spotted and took one of her hands, intertwining their fingers together. She made a mental note to get her something. Maybe she could win one of those weird stretchy things at the arcade for her instead.

"Some of the younger ones saw me as a sister, the person to go to if something was wrong. Especially if the witch came home drunk or in a bad mood. I was always the first notified if there was an issue." She spoke, her voice shaking and woven with disgust as she remembered the orphanage.

"One night she came home seriously wasted, and decided to take an older boy with her to her office. After about 5 or 10 minutes we heard commotion coming from her office, and lots of objects being thrown. I had a crowd of little kids running towards me for comfort, their cheeks wet with tears and their eyes full of fear. I was stood there trying to calm down a whole orphanage on my own." She paused for a second, swallowing back tears and taking a deep breath, before nodding and continuing.

"I had no other help. The rest of the older group had gone to find out what was wrong. The commotion only stopped when we heard 7 gunshots. 6 boys and one witch." Tears threatened to spill from her tired eyes, while Swan held her tight and laced her hands in her hair, running them through the soft brown locks.

"The police came, but it was no use. They didn't know what to do with us all. They just left. I was in charge of this group of kids who didn't understand what was happening, but what they did understand was that they had to listen to me if they wanted to stay safe. So.. we left the orphanage. Found an abandoned town. And we lived... there." She had pulled a map of New York out of her skirt pocket, and was indicating where Orphan Town was in relation to Coney Island.

"It was hard to get by, sure, but we managed just fine. Stealing from shops and occasionally mugging people for money so we could buy clothing, or weapons. The Orphans accepted pretty much anyone. Then Sully and Jesse came and took over. Nobody knew where they were from. They didn't talk to anyone about their past. We got a lot of people like that. They just seemed to throw away their previous life and start fresh." She said, shrugging like it wasn't something she'd done before.

"Then you guys came, and I followed." She stated, flashing Swan a weak smile, before directing her gaze back to the bedsheets, her hands fiddling with the hem of her skirt. She felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder pulling her in tighter, and she melted into the touch her eyelids drooping lower.

"I'm sorry for not telling you any of this before Swan, I just... I don't know. It's just...-" She cut herself off with a yawn, as her eyes shut and she dozed off.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Mercy,"

first story woahhh

feedback is appreciated and I am still taking requests 😼

#light angst #swercy #swan x mercy #warriors #lin manuel miranda #swan warriors #mercy warriors

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psychoticbipolarbear · 24 hours ago

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Midnight rain - part 1

pairing: Aaron Hotchner x reader

series summary: Your new sugar daddy is nothing like the ones you had before, but that's what makes the whole arrangement exciting. Too bad you both have your own emotional baggages that can make this relationship crash and burn.

word count: 2.2k

tags: fem!reader, sugar dating

masterlist

The coffee shop downtown that he picked isn’t full of people at seven in the evening, even though the place will be open for another two hours. Since you arrived early, you order a flat white for yourself, and while you wait at a table near the back, you take a better look at the place. It’s cozy, the interior and decor giving you the feeling that you’re in a cabin in the woods, sitting by the fireplace to warm up.

This is the kind of coffee shop where people can retreat to recharge after spending more than enough time in the hectic world outside, not the one where people sit with their laptops for hours to work, or where they meet business partners. No. This is the place where families, friends, even lovers meet each other. Then again, you’re an exception. You are here for business, meeting a man you met on a sugar dating website.

He goes by the nickname aaron65, and while you call him by that name, you have absolutely no idea if it’s the real one. But it’s fine. You don’t expect men to give away such details, especially since there are many in the area who are pretty well known for their political roles. Sometimes they use profile pictures, sometimes they don’t. Aaron is the one who picked a photo of probably himself, and if it’s him, then you’re in for a treat.

Those intelligent, warm brown eyes are enough to pull you in, but that accompanied by that boyish smile and the short brown hair that’s usually your weakness? Oh, boy. He has charisma, the kind that can be sensed even through a simple photo on your computer screen. Then there’s another thing you’ve learned about him through your conversations. He’s straightforward, definitely the no-bullshit kind of person, the one that knows what he wants and is willing to do anything to get it.

Even through the constant noise of the café, you hear the door open and close, and you instinctively look up to see who just walked in. The man goes to place his order, and while he’s waiting, he takes a good look around the place, as if he was searching for someone. You recognize him—it’s Aaron. But he looks tense, which makes you wonder if it’s work-related, or has more to do with the fact he’s here to meet you.

When your eyes meet, the corners of his lips curl into a warm smile. As he reaches for the cup the barista hands him, you notice the ring on his finger. So he’s married. Maybe he has a child at home too. Ever since he stepped in, the air has changed, he’s silently commanding respect, which makes you believe he’s in a higher and important position at work. That’s in sync with the fact his suit is quite expensive, showing off his good taste. And based on his expression as he looks at the barista who told him something, you have a hunch that he’s a good poker player.

The last man you had such an arrangement with was different. He was younger, deep down the same shy boy he was all through his years in high school and university. By now was a successful businessman, sure, but he was so hooked on working that he didn’t have the energy for maintaining a proper relationship. Being with you was his way to release some stress, you spent hours talking in the safety of his bedroom, and you loved listening to him.

The moment your new sugar daddy candidate sits down, your heart skips a beat, and you draw in a deep breath to calm your nerves. He’s just another guy, no need to panic, you tell yourself, although it’s impossible to stop spiraling. The way he watches you—observant and serious—makes you uneasy. But then, just when the thought of telling him it wouldn’t work then feeling the scene, he flashes a charming smile at you, and you’re back to square one.

“I’m glad you came,” he says, sounding genuinely pleased by your presence.

You instinctively return the smile, then your eyes move down to the cup that is enveloped by his long, thick fingers that are slowly tapping its side. He’s not nervous. If he was nervous, the tapping would follow a faster rhythm, but this is different, this is just something that helps him focus. Maybe he’s impatient, waiting for the conversation to get past the small talk.

Despite this observation, you don’t rush, you drag out the silence by taking a sip of your coffee. It’s cruel, but you need to know how patient he is, how much he needs to lose his cool. He doesn’t strike you as a violent person, but the looks can be deceiving. So, you wait, although your brain is already a few steps ahead.

Suddenly Aaron lets out a short laugh with an amused look on his face. “You’re profiling me,” he states. He’s not mad, if anything, he’s almost proud. When you tilt your head to the side, he lets go of the cup and puts his palms on the table, his fingers flexing as he prepares to talk. “Don’t worry, I did the same, although that’s what I do for a living, so it’s completely unintentional. So, wanna tell me what you found out about me?”

Leaning back in the chair, you begin to tap your freshly manicured nails on the table. And then you suddenly start to talk, carefully watching his expression to see how much of your observation was spot on. The more you say, the more impressed he seems, and by the end, he’s perfectly relaxed compared to how he was just a few minutes ago.

“Not bad,” he says when you finish. “Here’s what I have so far. You believe in first impressions, which is perfectly understandable considering what you do beside being a student. Your dress is not mass produced, it must be a haute couture piece you probably got as a gift from an earlier sugar daddy. The jewelry is expensive, delicate, yet not bold enough to draw unwanted attention to you. But you’re going for the good girl image, that’s why you chose a light, almost invisible makeup for this meeting. You’re a perfectionist, this is why you arrived earlier, why everything about your attire is spotless, why you are being extremely cautious with me.”

“That’s all?”

“No, I have more, but I’d rather keep that to myself for now,” he replies with a quiet laugh before taking a sip of his double espresso.

One of you has to start the practical conversation, why shouldn’t it be you? So, you let a long sigh escape your lips, and lean forward to get a better look at his eyes. “Why did you contact me? What do you want from… this?”

Aaron folds his hands, his gaze never moving away from yours. “For the thrill of it, I guess. My job is stressful, demanding, emotionally draining. My marriage? Even more so. I want to have someone who can help me relax, unwind a little after being away for work,” he responds, but you can tell that silence which follows is just a buffer time to prepare for the rest of his answer. “This isn’t about sex. Your company is the main reason why I’m here today.”

With a thoughtful hum, you pick up the menu from the side of the table to take a fleeting look at it. “It’s easier to pay someone than picking up some girl in a bar. They would ask questions, begin to demand more of your time, more of your attention, they would eventually start whining about the fact you’re staying with your wife,” you summarize, then look back at him, only to see him nod in agreement.

“Now, the tricky part. I travel a lot, which means I already have… issues at home for being away that much. And honestly, I want to spend as much time with my son as I can. But I know you’re in med school, so you have to be here a lot,” Aaron goes on, and you don’t miss the way he briefly fidgets with his fingers. “This is why I will need to know your schedule. Not to keep an eye on you, but to know when you can be available to travel after me if I have a case somewhere else. Apart from that, when I don’t have the time to meet you here, we will keep in touch over phone calls and texts,” he concludes.

A career-oriented, not entirely devoted family man. But he thought it through, probably several times, and he most definitely eliminated every vulnerability of the plan. He wants to protect himself, and with this, he also protects you. For a brief moment you wonder why he’s this thorough, but then you connect the dots and realize he probably works in a field that requires him to be like this, to plan everything carefully. Whatever it is, it doesn’t make you feel that calm.

“One last question from me. What do you do for a living?” you ask, keeping your tone casual despite your heart beating in your throat.

A handsome smile appears on his lips, and the look in his eyes tells you he’s on the edge of calling you a good girl, or a clever girl. But instead he just leans back and seems to enjoy the moment. “I’m the leader of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.” You’re not exactly familiar with the topic, so you give him an intrigued look to urge him to continue. “We’re profilers looking for some very dangerous murderers,” he explains.

You reach for your coffee and drink some of it, your eyes never leaving his. It’s a friendly staring match, one that you both clearly enjoy very much. “That explains a few things,” you note.

“Like?”

“The way you carry yourself, the attention to details, the barely noticeable, but definitely present hint of paranoia, and the desperate need to escape your life every once in a while.” Aaron nods, but his smile is a sad one. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to–”

“That’s okay, I want you to be honest anyway,” he assures you, then falls silent for a moment as he thinks. “Now, tell me about what you want. Why are you doing this?”

Where should you begin? There are several reasons why you reached into the sugar bowl, but he doesn’t have to hear every single one of them. This is why you decide to stick to the most shallow one, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to him. “Med school is expensive. And I have a taste for nice things, which isn’t cheap either,” you tell him.

He lets out a hum while he stirs his coffee almost absentmindedly. “I won’t press for the rest of the story, don’t worry. You can tell me if you feel like it later,” he says quietly, his eyes focused on his drink. “It’s a yes from me. What do you say? Should we jump into this arrangement?” he wonders, finally looking back at you.

Handsome. Intelligent. Has a good taste that matches yours. Nice. Successful. Cautious enough to protect you. Isn’t solely after sex. Willing to pay for your company alone if that’s the case. You have no reason to turn down his offer. “Alright, let’s do this,” you reply with a smile.

Aaron nods, then reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket to pull out a PDA and a phone that he hands over to you. “To keep in touch. I set it up, everything’s ready to use,” he explains, sounding surprisingly casual, as if this wasn’t a little weird. It’s usually not you who has to use a separate device. “It’s for your protection,” he speaks up when he notices your confusion. He glances down at his watch and lets out a sigh as he stands up. “I have to go, but we’ll talk later, okay? In the meantime, send me your bank account number.”

“Okay. It was nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, sweetheart,” he says, then to your surprise leans down to kiss your forehead.

You watch him leave, then you turn your attention to the devices in front of you, wondering what you can expect from this guy. You can’t say no to a handsome face, that’s your biggest weakness, and he charmed you enough to make you forget to ask the most important thing. The PDA suddenly beeps twice, and you check the device, only to find a few chat messages from him.

Aaron: I almost forgot. I’d rather you not meet with others beside me. If that means you lose a considerable income, please, tell me so we can discuss this.

Aaron: And one more thing. I will need your address too. I want to send you a surprise.

Well, this is gonna be interesting.

#criminal minds #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotchner x reader

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